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MEMOIRS AND CAMPAIGNS 



CHARLES JOHN^ 



PRIJ^CE ROYAL OF SWEDEJW 



BY JOHN PHILIPPART, ESQ. 



EMBELLISHED AVITH A BEAUTIFULLY ENGRAVED PORTRAIT. 



"His is the fortitude which unites with the courage of the field the more exalted and 
refined courage of the council, which knows how to retreat and how to advance— 
which can conquer as well by delay as by the rapidity of a march, or the impetu- 
osity of an attack— which can be like Fabius, the black cloud on the tops of the 
mountains; or with Scipio, the t|iunderbolt of war! which, undisturbed by false hu- 
manity, can calmly assume that most awful moral responsibility of deciding, when 
victory may be so dearly purchased by the loss of a single life, and when the safety 
rmd glory of his country may demand the certaiu sacrifice of tho\i3aais."„„Bterke, 



BALTIMORE: 

PUBLISHED BY NEAl, WILLS, & COIiE, 

AND COALE & MAXWELL. 

Benjamin Edes, Printer. 

1815. 



TO 

MAJOR-GENEEAL WESTFIELD SCOTT, 

THIS FIRST AMERICAN EDITION 
OF THE 

MEMOIRS dJ^'D CAMPMGJ\rS 

Of one of the most distinguished soldiers of Europe, 

IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED 

By his humble servants 

THE PUBLISHERS. 



CONTENTS. 



Birth, parentage, and early pursuit of the sub- 
ject of these memoirs . • .81 
His enlistment in the regiment of Royal Marines S2 
His heroic conduct in behalf of his Colonel, the 

Marquis d*Ambert . . . . 33 

His exertions to punish the assassin of General 

Goguet . . . . .35 

Conduct of Colonel Bernadotte at the attack near 

Marchienne au pont ... . ib. 

Ditto at the siege of Charleroi and Maestricht, 

and at the battle of Fleurus . , .36 

Ditto at the attack of Creutznach . . ib. 

Consternation and proceedings of the Dietof Ger- 
many in 1796 . . . .37 
Operations of the Archduke Charles . 38 
Action at Sultzbach . . . . .39 
Ditto at Augsburg . , . . 40 
Engagement at Tenning . . , .41 
General Bernadotte's address to his troops . 42 
General Bernadotte*s retreat to Neumarkt and 

Altdorf . , . . . 43 

Battle of Wurtzburg . . . ib. 

Observation of General Bernadotte on being pres- 
sed by General Jourdan for a certificate of his, 
Jourdan's conduct .... 45 



a "^ 

General Bernadotte's application to retire on half- 
pay, the causes and the consequences . 46 

1797. 

Passage of the Alps effected by General Berna- 

dotte in February, 1797 . . .lb. 

Dissatisfaction of the French soldiery, and Gene- 
ral Bernadotte's conduct ... 47 
Passage of the Tagliamento . . .48 
General Bernadotte's summons to the comman- 
dant of Gradiska . , , . 49 
Capture of Gradiska . . . .50 
Ditto of Goritia, Clagenfurth, and Laybach . 51 
Buonaparte/s letter to the Archduke Charles . 52 
Reply of the Archduke to ditto . . 54 
Letter of General Bernadotte on Generals Piche- 
gru, Willot, Villaret-joyeuse, and Rovere being 
arrested . . . . .56 



General Bernadotte's embassy to Vienna , ib. 
Disturbances of the 13th April, 1798, at Viennaj 

conduct of General Bernadotte, &c. &c. . 57 
General Bernadotte's refusal of a command in 

one of the interiour provinces of France . 61 
General Bernadotte appointed ambassadour to 

Holland, and his letter to the Directory . 62 

General Bernadotte appointed General-in-chief 

of the army of observation . . 68 

Capture of Manheim in 1799 : . ib. 

Siege of Philipsburg . ; . ib. 

General Bernadotte's letter to the Rhingravc of 

Salm . . . . . ib. 



in 

Heply to the general . * . 6j» 

The siege of Philipsburg raised by General Ber- 
Tiadotte .... 66 

General Bernadotte appointed war minister; his 
judicious conduct, and his refusal to arrest Buo- 
naparte on the return of the latter from Egypt 69 

General Bernadotte resigns the post of war min- 
ister; his noble conduct towards the Duke 
d'Enghein in 1799 . . . 72 

Marriage of General Bernadotte, birth of his 

son, &c. 1^ . . . . ibo 

Meeting of Buonaparte's family at the house of 
General Bernadotte . . .75 

General Bernadotte's disapprobation of the events 
of the 18th Brumaire . , .74 

General Bernadotte appointed councillor of 

state . . . - . 75 

Ditto Commander-in-chief of La Vendee . ib. 

His address to Buonaparte when nominated 

Emperour of France . . . .76 

Ditto appointed a Marshal of Francej and 
presented with a command at Hanover . lb* 

Statement of the losses sustained by the conti- 
nental powers in consequence of the war, con- 
cluded by the treaty of peace at Luneville . ^^ 

Campaign of 1805 . . . 79 
Marshal Bernadotte's capture of Ingolstadt 80 

Ditto of Munich . . . .81 

Gallant conduct of the Archduke Ferdinand 82 

Surrender of Ulm by General Mack . . 8S 

Grand movements of Marshal Bernadotte 85 

Buonaparte's entry into Vienna . . 86 

Battle of Austerlitz . . . 91 
2 



IV 

Armistice between the Emperour of Austria and 
Buonaparte . . ... 94 

Buonaparte's proclamation after the battle of 
Austerlitz .... 96 

Marsiial Bernadotte created Prince of Ponte 
Corvo . . . . 98 

Prussian Campaign of 1806 . . .99 

Battle of Jena . . . .101 

Battle of Lubeck . . * . .107 

Battle of Pultusk . ^ . 109 

Campaign of 1S07 . . . 112 

Action at Elbing . , • . ib. 

Sir Robert Wilson's statement of plunder found 
in the possession of Marshal Bernadotte, and 
General Sarazin's reply to the same . 113 

Battle of Mohringen . . . 114 

Attack of the tete du pont at Spandau . H^ 

Marshal Bernadotte wounded . . 118 



Marshal Bernadotte sent with his troops to Den- 
mark ..... 118 

Escajje of the Spanish patriots under the Marquis 
de Romana .... 119 

Marshal Bernadotte appointed, in 1809, to com- 
mand the Saxon army . . . 121 

Battle of Wagramj Marshal Bernadotte censured 
by Buonaparte . . . 122 

Marshal Bernadotte appointed to command the 
French army at Antwerp, and his recall . ib. 

Buonaparte's letter to the King of Sweden on the 
murder of Cbarles Augustus Augustenburg, 
Prince Royal of Sweden . 123 



Marshal Bernadotte proposed by the King as a 

successour to the Prince Royal of Sweden 124 

Reply of the States-general of Sweden . 125 

Act of election of Marshal Bernadotte to be the 

Prince Royal of Sweden . . 126 

Letter from Marshal Bernadotte to the King of 
Sweden, upon the intelligence of his election 
being communicated to him . . . 128 

Letter from ditto to ditto, on being presented 

with the Swedish orders . . 129 

Character of the Prince Royal of Sweden, by Ma- 
dame la Baronne de Stagl Holstein . . 130 
The Prince Royal's address to the Diet of Swe- 
den after his installation . . 132 
Dispatch from the Swedish minister at Paris to 

the King of Sweden, Oct. 26, 1810 . 135 

Swedish declaratioii of war against Great Britain *135 
Letter from the Prince Royal of Sweden to Buo- 
naparte, Stockholm, Dec. 8, ±S±d^ . *137 
Ditto, ditto, Dec. 12 . . . *139 
Buonaparte's demands on Sweden . *140 
Reply of the Baron D'Engerstrom to ditto . 141 
Temporary resignation of the King of Sweden 142 
The Prince Royal's edict for the repressing of 

luxury . . . . . 144 

The Prince Royal's Report to the King, of the 

measures adopted during his retirement . 146 
Buonaparte's seizure of Pomerania . 155 

Ditto ditto of the Isle of Rugen . . ib. 

Letter from the Prince Royal to Buonaparte, 

Stockholm, 16th March, 1812 . , . 156 

Letter from the Baron D'Engerstrom to Count 
Niepperg ..... 158 

• See signature 19. The pages of this si^^ture by an errour in printing, appear the 
same as signatvu-e 18. 



Note from M. D'Ohsson, Charge d' Affaires at 
Paris, to the Duke of Bassano, May 28, 1812 161 

Speeches of the King and the Prince Royal of 
Sweden, on the Diet heing assembled * 166 

Swedish decree relative to commerce . . 167 

Speech of the King of Sweden at the close of the 
Diet . . . . . 168 

Treaty between Great Britain and Sweden . 169 

Substance of engagements entered into between 
the courts of St. Petersburg and Stockholm, as 
far as the same are referred to in the treaty be- 
tween the King of Great Britain and the King 
of Sweden .... 174 

Meeting between the Emperour of Russia and the 
Prince Royal of Sweden . . . 175 

Report of the Swedish minister on the relations 
between Sweden and France during the years 
1811 and 1812 , . . . 176 

The Prince Royal's farewell address to the Swe- 
disli army in the interiour . . . 183 

Note from Baron D'Engerstrom to M. de Cabre, 
Charge d'Afl'aires from France at Stockholm 
Dec. 20, 18i2 .... 189 

Letter from M. de Cabre to the Baron D'Enger- 
strom, Dec. 21, 1812 . . . 191 

Ditto from Baron D'Engerstrom to M. de Cabre, 
Dec. 23, 1812 . , .' . 193 

Ditto from M. de Cabre to the Baron D'Enger- 
strom, Dec. 23, 1812 . . . ib. 

Military operations at and in the vicinity of Ham- 
burg in May, 1813 . . . 194 

Journey of the Prince Royal to the liead-quar- 
tcrs of the Emperour of Russia and King of 
Prussia . ... 198 

Denunciation of tlic ai'mistice . . 20Q 



vii 

Character, &c. of Genpral Moreau . . 201 
Positions occupied by the allies and the French at 

the termination of the armistice . 203 
The Prince Royal of Sweden's first bulletin, dated 

Oranienburg, Aug, 13, 1813 , . 306 
Ditto, second bulletin, Potzdam, Aug. 16 . 210 
Ditto, address to the army . . . ib. 
Ditto, third bulletin, Charlottenburg, Aug. 18 212 
Ditto, fourth ditto, Potzdam, Aug. 21 , 214 
Ditto, sixth ditto, RundsdorfF, Aug. 24 . ib. 
Battle of Gros Beren ... ib. 
The Piince Royal's reply to an address from Ber- 
lin 21« 

Ditto, sixth bulletin, Saarmund, Aug. 28 « ib. 

Affair at Juterbock , . 221 

Capitulation of Luckau . . ; 222 
The Prince RoyaPs seventh bulletin, Belitz, 

Aug. 30 .... 224 

Operations of the allies at Dresden . . 225 

Eighth bulletin, Truenbrietzen, Sept. 1 . 226 
Ninth ditto, Rodigke, Sept. 4 . . .227 

Tenth ditto, Juterbock, Sept. 6 . . 231 

Eleventh ditto, Sept. 8, battle of Dennevitz . 232 

Twelfth ditto, Juterbock, Sept, 10 . . 237 

Thirteenth ditto, Leyda, Sept. 12 . . 243 

Fourteenth ditto, Koswig, Sept. 14 . 245 

Fifteenth ditto, Zerbst, Sept. 16 . . 248 

Proclamation of the Prince Royal to the Saxons 250 

Letter from the Prince Royal to Buonaparte . 252 

Sixteenth bulletin, Zerbst, Sept. 20 . 258 

Affair at Gorde , . . ,- 259 

Denmark's declaration of war with Sweden 262 

Seventeenth bulletin, Zerbst, Sept. 22, . ib. 

Affair at HoUendorff . . . 265 

Eighteenth bulletin, Zerbst, Sept. 26 . 267 

ISombardmen^ of Wittenberg . <. 268 



I VIU 

Nineteenth bulletin, Zerbst, Sept. SO . 271 

Sketch of military events, from the 1st of Sept. to 

thelstof Oct. 1813 ... 273 

Twentieth bulletin, Dessau, Oct. 4, 1813 . 277 
Twenty-first ditto .... 280 

Movements of the Prince Royal of Sweden on 

Leipzig ..... 282 

Twenty-second bulletin . . . 285 

Battle of Leipzig .... 286 

Twenty-third bulletin . : . 287 

Prussian military report of the battle of Leipzig ib. 
Austrian military report of ditto . . 28^ 

Reply of the Emperour Alexander to the King of 

Saxony's offer of capitulation . . 291 

Description of the misery proceeding from the 

first day's battle , . . 292 

Letter from the Prince Royal of Sweden to Lieut. 
General Sir Charles Stewart, presenting him 
with the honours of a Grand Cross, and com- 
mander of the royal military Order of the 
Sword . . i . . 294 

Twenty -fourth bulletin, Oct. 22, 1813 . 300 

Twenty-fifth ditto, Mulhausen, Oct. 26 . 301 

Death of Captain Bogue, . . . 303 

Letter from the Prince Royal to Mrs. Bogue 304 
Invectives contained in the French journals 

against the Prince Royal . . 307 

Reply to ditto .... >*b. 

Observations on the career of the Prince Royal 311 
Defence of the disposal of Guadaloupe to Sweden 313 
Portrait of Buonaparte . . .315 

Twenty-sixth bulletin, Hciligcnstadt, Oct. 30, 

1813 . . . . .318 

Deputation from the University of Gottingen to 
tlie Prince Royal , . . 321 



IX 

Rejoicing at Hanover on the arrival of the Prince 

Royal . . . .322 

Twenty-seventh bulletin, Hanover, Nov. 10, 1813 323 
Battle of Hanau ... 324. 

Twenty-eighth bulletin, Boitzenburg, Novem- 
ber 30, 1813 . . . .328 
Attack at Doesburg . . . ib 
Capture of the fortresses of Zutphen and Kolt- 

kamp . . • . . 329 

Ditto at Groningen and Campen . 330 

Ditto of the fortresses of Carlsburg and Blixen ib 
Ditto of Stade . . . . ib 

Ditto of Stettin . . . .332 

Ditto of Horneburg . . . ib 

Manifesto issued by the allied Sovereigns from 

Franckfort . . . .335 

Twenty-ninth bulletin, Neuminster, Dec. 12, 1813 ib. 
Capture of Rothenburg . . . 336 

Sortie from Hamburg * , i 337 

Affair at Ostenrode .... 340 

Tliirtieth bulletin, Kiel, Dec. 16, 1813 , . 341 

Armistice demanded by the Prince of Hesse ib 
Capture of the fort of Vollerwyk . 342 

Review of the exertions of the Prince Royal 343 
Letter addressed by the Prince Royal to his Son, 

Lubeck, Dec. 7, 1813 . . ib. 

Statement of the operations of the Prince Royal 344 
Suspension of arms between the allied armies and 

the Danish forces . . . 345 

Thirty -first bulletin, Kiel, Dec. 21, 1813 . 348 

Marshal Davoust's orders of the 20th December 349 
Magnanimous condut of the Prince Royal on the 

publication of the above . . . 350 

Proclamation of the Prince Royal to the inhab- 
itants of Holsteia , . . 352 



Thirty-second bulletin, Kiel, Dec. 26, 1813 . 353 
Thirty-tliird bulletin, Kiel, Jan. 6, 1814 . 356 

Renewal of hostilities with Denmark, and occupa- 
tion of the whole duchy of Sleswick by tiie 
Swedes ..... 359 

Substance of the treaty of peace and alliance be- 
tween England and Denmark . 360 
Ditto between Sweden and Denmark . ib 
Co-operation of the Danes with the Swedes 361 
Thirty-fourth bulletin, Kiel, Jan. 17, 1814. 362 
Declaration of the King of Denmark . 365 
Thirty-fifth bulletin, Cologne, Feb. 1, 1814 . 372 
Remarks on the private character and disposition 

of the Prince Royal . . . 376 

Letter from the Prince Royal to M le Baron de 
Cederheilm, on the education of his Royal 
Highness's Son ... . 379 



DEDICATION, 



(BY PERMISSION) 
TO 

MADAMfi 



LA BARONNE DE STAEL HOLSTER, 



Madamj 

The language of panegyric must not be ad- 
dressed to you, because its powers and its expres- 
sions would be alike unable to do you justice; but 
there is a homage of the feelings, and sentiments 
that may be offered without offence to your deli- 
cacy or your station, and which. Madam, I have 
the honour to present. Such homage it will be my 
constant ambition to avow, and to the close of my 
existence I shall remember, with pride and plea- 
sure, the countenance and the patronage of a ^^wo- 
man, illustrious by the gifts of genius." 

The transcend ancy of your genius, your literary 
fame and deep erudition, had rendered your name 
celebrated in England long before your arrival. 
You have been honoured. Madam, in every coun- 
try to which your steps have been directed, and in 
8 



XIV 

none more than in that which can boast of giving 
you birth; for there you were proscribed by one 
who felt your superiority, and by his conduct, ta- 
citly acknowledged it in the face of the world. In 
Sweden public honours were justly decreed you, 
and I trust that on the soil of Britain, and amongst 
her liberal and enlightened sons, you will have 
no cause to regret being an alien to that beautiful 
country which was once yours. 

The friend of genius and of man, the laurel un- 
der whose shade you reposed, the prince, the sol- 
dier and the statesman, I have in the following 
sheets, endeavoured faithfully to delineate, and 
my work having received the approbation of the 
Corinna of France, I feel every confidence in its 
success. 

I am not, however. Madam, insensible to the 
many difficulties and even boldness of my task. 
I am fully aware of tlie contrarieties of opinion 
entertained in this country upon many of the 
events that are discussed in my work, but my la- 
bours having received both your approval and pa- 
tronage, I am regardless of any opposition that 
may be offered to the sentiments and declarations 
they contain. 

I cannot resist thus publicly offering to you the 
acknowledgments I most warmly entertain for 
those lights you so readily threw upon the life 
and character of the Prince Royal; and from whom 
could I receive such information as from her who 
has seen him alike the heir of an ancient and au- 
gust throne, and divested of the appendages of 



XV 

royalty, as an amiable and enlightened compan- 
ion: — but although I feel certain that any declara- 
tion of my devotion and my respect for you, Ma- 
dam, would convey but a faint idea of my senti- 
ments, I must beg permission to express my ear- 
nest desire that you may still continue to receive 
those peaceful and unalloyed pleasures in the bo- 
som of your amiable family, to which your heart 
is so warmly susceptible, and in the world, that 
enthusiastic admiration your virtues and your ta= 
lents demand. 

I have the honour to be, 
Madam, 
Your very obliged, 

and most faithful Servant, 

J. PHILIPPART, 



ADVERTISEMENT, 



x HERE is not among all the memorable trans^ 
actions, military and political, by which the Eu- 
ropean world has been involved and agitated for 
the last twenty years, any that have excited more 
strong and universal interest than those of the pre- 
sent and the preceding continental campaings. 
For a long period the views of one ambitious in- 
dividual no sooner elicited themselves than suc- 
cess, in its most full and brilliant aspect crowned 
his enterprizes, however bold in their conception, 
unprincipled in their design, or unexpected in 
their execution. 

An amazing career of victory placed Napo- 
leon Buonaparte above the reach of calamity, and 
far removed from casual disappointment, uijtil the 
campaign of 181S-13 suddenly dispelled the magic 
shade his policy and subtlety had thrown over the 
observation of mankind, and shewed, that in the 
hands of an offended and avenging Omnipotent, 
the power of Napoleon, his armies, and his ^^suc- 
cessful destinies,'^ were but as the dews of the 
morning, which glitter for a while, and then va= 
nish beneath the sun-beams. 



XVlll 

lu the reverse of fortune that has at length 
overtaken this distinguished desolator, it is im- 
possible not to be susceptible of a feeling of inde- 
scribable gratitude, awe, and admiration of the 
Supreme Power which has arrested his sanguin- 
ary progress, and retarded the execution of those 
vast designs that were intended to carry blood 
and desolation into another hemisphere: and from 
this feeling the thoughts naturally revert to the 
condition in which the most powerful States of 
the world would have been placed, had not the 
avenging arm been stretched out to punish his 
presumption and deliver his fellow-men. 

In the ever varying circle of human existence 
it is observable, that the degradation of a State, 
or of an individual, is but a prologue to the ele- 
vation of another, and thus lias it appeared with 
Napoleon Buonaparte and his great contemporary 
Charles John. However difficult it may be for 
a man in obscure life to raise himself to power 
and greatness, yet having once acquired those 
possessions, he instantly finds the task of retain- 
ing them to be by far the most arduous: then is 
the hero, or the man of a common mind, discov- 
ered, and the world not imposed upon by false 
greatness and the exteriour appearance of supe- 
riour intellect. 

The passion most universal and most remark- 
able in the human mind, is ambition. However 
different in their pursuits, their occupations, or 
their desires, still ambition, to a degree, more or 
less, is disceruable in every man. And whether 



XIX 

it is directed to the subjugation of kingdoms, or 
the culture of a flower, it is still the same pas- 
sion, under a different semblance. In the breast 
of a man of virtue it is a most noble and amiable 
feeling, urging him to actions which reflect lustr© 
on his character; and although it does not at all 
times bring with it unqualified success, and unal- 
loyed gratifications, it is nevertheless always ex- 
alted, generous, and magnanimous. With the 
common herd of men it is a petty and contemptible 
passion, and in the breast of a misanthropist it is 
a scourge. 

The Prince Royal of Sweden is not unambi- 
tious; but with him ambition is a principle, not an 
instrument: it has been to him a watch-fire, which 
has led him by an easy gradation from a firelock 
to a sceptre, — ^from a camp to a court: and through 
his strange and romantic course, there are but few, 
if any, recollections, that are calculated to cast a 
gloom over his brow, or give a pang to his heart. 

In the unexampled successes, and the sudden 
and extraordinary reverses that have attended the 
Ruler of the French nation, the world beholds a 
lesson for the most ambitious. It is almost a mo- 
ral impossibttity for any other character to attain 
that superiority of power which was acquired by 
Buonaparte; his insatiate ambition, his great mi- 
litary talents, his despotic power, his open and 
secret treachery, his intrigues and perfidy, have 
been, however, always sufficient grounds for dis- 
trust, jealousy and alarm. His proceedings have 
constantly excited universal apprehensions, and 



XX 

each Contineutal State has secretly Oesired the 
organization of an adequate counterpoise against 
a power, whicli at last rashly committed itself, in 
endeavouring to acquire the command of the 
whole Continent; and ineffectually availed itself 
of every unjust means to ohtain that end. 

An intelligent political writer^- has very sensi- 
bly observed, it is deeply to be lamented, that 
those who are so ready to expose the faults of 
Buonaparte, and dwell upon his crimes, "should 
not endeavour to imitate him in those qualities in 
which he excels other men, and by which he has 
been enabled to rule over so many that are better 
than himself "f This is an observation that has 
often occurred to me: it is the best policy to imi- 
tate the actions of an enemy when they are likely 
to produce real benefits to a State, or to success- 
fully oppose his ambitious projects. 

It is true, in the early periods of the Prince 
Royal of Sweden's diplomatic career, he was 
betrayed into actions intemperate, and indeed 
contemptuous, towards a foreign power his minis- 
terial functions placed him near: J but in extenua- 

* Mr. Playfair— Firfe his "Political Potraits," 1813. 

t His perseverance in his undertakings, rewarding 
those who do real service, and dismissing those who are 
fouitd unfit to serve the public, highly deserve imitation, 
and cannot but be admired, even by his greatest enemies. 
This practice he adopted amongst the Jacobins, and if 
folly and ambition did not destroy their works, such a 
m.ode of proceeding would ensure success. 

\ Vide page 57. 



XXI 



Cion to a man who it has not been ray intention to 
represent "as a faultless monster, which the world 
ne'er saw," I must remark, that he was drawn 
into that exuberance of self-will by the overween- 
ing arrogance of the Assembly he then served, 
and which attempted, with too much success, to 
substitute its own presumptuous and unprincipled 
mandates in place of the laws and customs of 
neighbouring and even neutral States. 

But the impositions of the revolution, when 
they ceased to delude and intimidate the world, 
wei'e beheld in all the deformity of vice, cruelty 
and folly; and many of its strenuous supporters, 
the orators who declaimed in its praise, and the 
soldiers who spilled their blood for its security, 
were alike ashamed of the parts they had taken, 
and eager to demonstrate that feeling by a line of 
conduct in opposition to their former measures. — 
Having been once led into errour and extravagance 
of conduct by the baleful example of flagitious 
men, and the incongruous system of republican 
philosophy, it argues in the Prince Royal an in- 
genuousness of soul, and a free spirit, to retract 
and amend such errours. 

There is a spacious range for observation and 
inquiry into the political conduct of the Prince 
Royal of Sweden, since his elevation to that dig- 
nity. The frankness with which he at first ac- 
knowledged his obligations to Napoleon Buona- 
parte; his devotedness to that extraordinary 
character, and his constant sentiments of national 
attachment, have all been expressed with a sincer- 



xxu 

ity equally stroDg and natural. How pure, then, 
must be the patriotism of his soul — how exalted 
his feelings of gratitude to his adopted father and 
King, Charles XIII. — and how warm his affec- 
tion to those Swedes, who, of their own free elec- 
tion, have placed him at the foot of their throne, 
when all those long-cherished and early ties are 
voluntarily torn asunder, and the first and finest 
feelings of his heart sacrificed, to give peace, 
security and honour to Sweden — repose to all the 
world. 

The cynic and the misanthropist may declaim 
against the political conduct of the Prince Royal 
of Sweden; but the upright heart will trace 
therein the enlightened prince, the just magis- 
trate, the exalted patriot. France is indeed his 
parent, but he is united to Sweden; and as long 
as he felt it compatible with the interest of the lat- 
ter power, the country that had adopted and cho- 
sen him for her prince, he evinced his attachment 
to Buonaparte: but when France became at vari- 
ance with Sweden, and no hope of a satisfac- 
tory and honourable reconciliation remained, the 
Prince Royal could not a moment hesitate as to 
the line of conduct duty and patriotism called 
upon him to pursue, and in uniting his arms with 
those of the allied powers of the Continent, his 
Royal Highness declared his ambition was to re- 
store peace to Sweden — to France — to the world. 

Each day that passes serves to deepen the in- 
terest every well-wisbcr to the independence of 
Europe must take in tlie military operations of 



XXIU 

the Prince Royal; and every foreign paper affords 
some new proof of his great abilities as a soldier 
and a statesman. 

In addition to the public documents the author 
has collected and compiled with the greatest at- 
tention, he has been favoured with such sketches 
of the private and domestic manners of the Prince 
Royal, as shew him in the most amiable point of 
view — whether as a son, a husband, a father, or 
a friend. Throughout the following pages, will 
be found introduced various anecdotes of his 
Royal Highness in support of this declaration, 
and which the author flatters himself will be read 
with interest and satisfaction. Those readers, 
however, who are desirous of prying into all the 
domestic views of the subject of the author's me- 
moirs, will be perhaps disappointed: he has al- 
most exclusively confined himself to the public 
career of the Prince Royal, and contented him- 
self with brief sketches of his private character. 
But the author, however, acquainted with the fe- 
minine curiosity of many modern readers, has not 
thought it necessary, in the memoirs of an illustri- 
ous military character, to enter into details that 
would be disgusting to the real military and politi- 
cal reader. He has not thought it proper to satisfy 
those frivolous characters, who would wish to 
know whether the Prince Royal's hours of re- 
tirement from public duties were passed in listen- 
ing to the music of his wife's harp, or her voice; 
what company he saw; his hour of rising and re- 



XXIV 

firing, &c.; and whether he pursued the sylvan 
game in the romantic wilds and forests of Swe- 
den. 

The author must now call the attention of his 
readers to a paragraph in the writings of Poly- 
bius, as it most fully applies to the observations 
he has been obliged to offer throughout these me- 
moirs. "If we pay a proper regard to truth," ob- 
serves Polybius, "we shall find it necessary not 
only to condemn our friends upon some occasions, 
and commend our enemies, but also to commend 
and condemn the same persons, as different cir- 
cumstances may require; for it is not to be imagin- 
ed, that those who are engaged in great affairs 
should always be pursuing false or mistaken mea- 
sures; so neither is it probable that their conduct 
can at all times be exempt from errour." 

Before concluding this Advertisement, the Au- 
thor feels it a duty to offer his acknowledgments 
to those individuals who have been always ready 
to afford him the information they have possessed 
on the subjects of his writings. To Madame La 
Baronne De Stael Holstein, he has already pub- 
licly presented his warmest thanks; they are also 
due to his Excellency the Baron De Rahausen, 
and to other distinguished characters. The Au- 
thor has also to express the satisfaction he feels 
at the very liberal manner with which his various 
Avritings have been received by the Public, and 



XXY 



his thanks to those literary, friends who hav^ 
deemed them worthy of their patronage.* 
London, April 6. 18 14. 



N. B. As it will be readily perceived that tlie 
principal part of this work has been a considei*- 
able time in the press, the Author considers it 
necessary to observe, that the delay in its publi- 
cation has arisen from his desire to narrate the 
military operations of the Prince Royal of Swe- 
den to the close of the grand struggle for the de- 
liverance of Europe from the ambition of Napo- 
leon Buonaparte; and that this sheet, as well as 

* It should, however, be here noticed, that one attack, 
(and one only,) on the Author's works, and that of the 
most scurrilous and violent description, appeared in that 
receptacle of abuse, the Critical Review, and to which he 
thought proper to reply through the medium of the JSTew 
JReview, but contrary to the advice of his friends, as the 
malevolence of the attack was too evident to obtain for it 
any other from the public than the feeling it merited; ne- 
vertheless, it may, perhaps, be necessary for the Author 
to state, that the article alluded to, was written by a per- 
son out of pique to him, for having refused the insertion 
of some statements sent for a military work, over which 
he, the Author has some controul, and to which state- 
ments he decidedly objected, not from any ill-will to the 
writer of them, but on account of the malevolence of the 
papers, and the injury the work in question might sus- 
tain from their introduction. 



# 



XXVi 

the dedication was put to press previous to some 
- of the concluding parts of the volume. 
- The Author hopes to develop in a few^ weeks 
the policy that has directed the Prince Royal du- 
ring the last month, if such development should 
become necessary. • At present he considers it 
just to observe in defence of his Royal High- 
ness, that in this country the many are led away 
by the impressions of the moment, and are always 
willing to form and promulgate opinions on the 
suggestions that at first offer themselves, instead 
of coolly investigating or attending for authentic 
information, that might direct an unbiassed opin- 
ion. By these politicians, the conduct of the 
Prince Royal has been severely reprobated; by 
them only has he been censured for his stay at 
Liege, whilst maturer minds, too just and noble 
to be guided by the flimsy and versatile arguments 
of "the many," delay their judgment till the po- 
licy of his Royal Higness shall be satisfactorily 
revealed. 

The abdication of the throne of France by 
Napoleon Buonaparte has also occurred since 
the dedication and this sheet Avere put to press. 
That event has restored peace to Europe, and li- 
berty to the world: that event has been secured 
by the unanimity and perseverance of the allies; 
and in none have those sentiments more strongly 
prevailed, than in the mind and conduct of the 
Prince Royal of Sweden. His skilful and suc- 
cessful movements in the North of Germany; his 
proclamations and addresses to the French peo- 



xxvii 

pie; his candour and firmness, awakened a great 
part of the French nation to the true state of their M 
affairs, and exposed the ruin and misery which 
were enveloping them by the mad ambition of 
their Emperour. 

The downfal of Napoleon Buonaparte from 
the throne of France produces, however, in the 
mind of the Author of this work, a very different 
feeling from that entertained, or at least promul- 
gated, by those who now deride, revile, and sa- 
tirize the soldier, whose victories and whose 
**^conduct" gained hira, at one period, the admi- 
ration and the eulogism of the historians of this 
country; but whose' insatiable ambition ^^violated 
the compact which united him to the French peo- 
ple." Whilst his abdication of that throne, to 
which he was raised by his talents, must be re- 
joiced in by all well wishers to the repose of Eu- 
rope, the independent mind cannot contemplate 
his retirement without feelings somewhat ap- 
proaching to respect. 

The provisional government of France have 
observed, that ^^during a certain period of firm 
and prudent government. Napoleon Buonaparte 
afforded to the nation reasons to calculate for the 
future on acts of wisdom and justice; and when 
told, "that he is the only obstacle to the re-esta- 
blishment of the peace of Europe," he resigns 
the thrones of France and Italy, and declares, 
^'^that there is no personal sacrifice, even that of 
life, which he is not ready to make to the inter- 
est of France." The members of the provision 



XXVIU 



al government, truly noble, do not forget the for- 
mer services of their general; they recollect what 
is due to him, what is due to themselves: they 
remind the French people how degrading and 
unworthy it were to abuse him; they provide for 
his retirement, and present him with an income, 
which Buonaparte observes is too much for a 
soldier like him. 

The present revilers of the fallen tyrant should 
read the language of Monsieur, the brother of 
Louis XVIII. who, on a lady lately abusing 
Buonaparte in his presence, observed — "Hushl 
do not abuse him, I could find it in my heart to 
raise 9; little statue to him in some part of my 
apartment.'' 

The minds of the great are not to be judged 
in prosperity; their true characters are only seen 
in calamity: and he that can buffet the storms of 
life, and when fallen from the highest summit of 
splendour to which any human being was ever 
raised to become the tenant of an Elban villa, 
and is not overcome by his adversity, possesses a 
mind which for its firmness, all may contemplate 
with respect. 

"When all the blandishments of life are gone, 
The coward sneaks to death, the brave live on.'* 

London, Mpril, 16, 1814. 



MEMOIRS, ^-c. 



The Crown Prince of Sweden is decidedly the 
most prominent character of any of the illustrious 
individuals who, at this moment, unite their strength 
against the waning greatness of Napoleon Buona- 
parte, whether ccmsidered as a statesman, a soldier, 
or a prince, forming part of the chastising whole 
which overshadows the military glories of his former 
associates in arms, he is still the general who leads, 
and the sage who directs; nor. can it be deemed a 
too glowing metaphor to assert, that the Crown 
Prince of Sweden is at this moment, the Polar Star 
OE Europe. 

This celebrated soldier and statesman rose not sud- 
denly, like the bursting of a volcano, carrying in its 
destructive course, death, misery, and desolation. 

His advancement was gradual and dignified. He did 
5 



30 

not trample on the bleeding victims who stood athwart 
his path to dominion, nor wade through human gore, 
to seize a diadem; — he rose like the sun in silent ma- 
jesty, to Tivify, not to destroy.* 

The too prevalent and ridiculous practice observed 
by biographers, of exalting the Idol of the times 
above the frailties and weaknesses of humanity, is a 
system of such glaring fallibility and false reasoning, 
that it ought to be resisted and discouraged by all re- 
flecting men. It may be argued that human nature is 
prone to judge from those appearances which present 
themselves to observation, and that an ingenuous 
mind will eagerly put such construction on the ac- 
tions of mankind as accord with its innate feelings 
and sentiments. Nevertheless, such a position, al- 
though most honourable to human nature, is most er- 
roneous, and it is from the test of experience alone^ 
that the principles and views of individuals can be ba- 
lanced, and at that tribunal only, should their merits 
be tried. 

In order to strengthen this argument, I beg to draw 
the attention of my readers to the public journals, 
annals, and political writings of the years 1796, 1797, 
and 1798, when Buonaparte was bursting upon the 
world like the sudden appearance of a brilliant and 
unanticipated comet. How was he then appostro- 
phizcd, as the youthful hero who had risen to make 
his country great, powerful, secure! How was he 



" Bernadotte rose from tlie ranks to tlie dignity of Crown Piince of Sweden, and 
although he was one of tlie first to sign tlic insuuuient nominating Buonapaite Empe- 
ror of the Frciicli, jet as will be seen in tlie sequel, few instances have occurred 
tbrougliout liis career, wherein he h:is not acted w itii humaiiity, while luaiiy traits of 
his character and conduct are recorded, that certainly are most highly crcditabte aud 
honciitnble both to his heart and luidentandirg. 



31 

eulogised as an Archangel Michael, wlio held the 
flaming sword in his fateful hand, *"not to destroy 
men's lives, but to save them." 

That those inconsiderate adulators have had woe.- 
ful cause to retrapt their opinions, no one v*ill now 
venture to deny. 

Having this useful lesson strongly impressed upon 
my mind, and a determined intention to retrace the 
career of the Crown Prince of Sweden with a spirit 
of candour and impartiality, I enter upon my task; 
and I trust it will be allowed that the officer whose 
character and exploits I have to delineate, with all 
the immensity of his undertakings and conceptions, is 
not exalted by me above the standard of human excel- 
lence, or even removed from human fallibility. 

The subject of these memoirs was born at Pan,* a 
town of France, capital of the department of the 
Lower Pyrenees, on the 26th of January, 1763, two 
years after the birth of General Moreau. 

It is a fact worthy of remark, that the parentage of 
the present Crown Prince of Sweden and the late Gen- 
eral Moreau, was nearly similar. The fathers of 
each followed the profession of the law^, and were men 
of moderate fortune. The desire of Bernadotte's 
father, with respect to the line of life he should pursue, 
was similar to that entertained by the parent of Gen- 
eral Moreau j he was anxious his son should imbibe a 



* Henry VI. was born at Pau: it was the ancient residence of the kings of Navarre^ 
and before the revolution, the capital of Beam. It possesses several manufactories of 
cloth, woQllen, &?. and is seated on an eminence, by the river Pau, 97 miles south of 
Bordeaux. 



S2 

taste for the profession of which he was himself a 
most respectable and honourable member, but the ac- 
tive genius and vivacity of Bernadotte could not be 
confined to the dry studies of the law, and his aversion 
to tread in that path wherein his father had fondly 
flattered himself he would be soon distinguished, indu- 
ced him, at the early age of fifteen, to quit his pater- 
nal roof, and to enlist in the regiment of Royal Ma- 
rines.* "With this corps the young Bernadotte served 
under M. de Bussy, during the American war, in the 
East Indiesj and afterwards with the squadron under 
Bailly de Suffrein. 

Within a year from the period of his enlistment, 
Bernadotte was promoted to the rank of corporal, and 
in 1783, on the return of his regiment to France, he 
attained the rank of serjeant. 

From the year 1783 till 1789, little of interest occur- 
red relating to the subject of these memoirs. In the 
latter year a circumstance took place, which, as it 
certainly evidences the respectability of the character 
of Bernadotte at that period, and the influence he pos- 
sessed over the minds of his companions in arms, must 
not be passed over. 

The Royal Marines were stationed at Marseilles in 
the year 1789, a period when the revolutionary springs, 
which afterwards agitated the whole French empire. 



• General Moreau was destined to follow the profession of his father, who had prac- 
tised tliat of an advocate with considerable reputation, in his native town: but a predi- 
liction for a niilitar)' life induced him, at a ver>' early age, to enter the army as a pri- 
vate soldier. He was, however, redeemed from the ranks by his i)arent, and he tcsiuncd 
his studies.— r«fc tJie Author's Memoirs of General Moreau. 

The coincidence in the parentage and early designs of General Moreau and the pre> 
sent Crown Prince of Sweden is striking and singular. 



33 

were in their birth. The inhabitants of Marseilles 
were, generally, men of Jacobinical principles, and 
they had succeeded in inciting the soldiers in the town 
to rise against their officers. When this object was 
accomplished, the mob determined on the murder of 
the Marquess D'Ambert, colonel of the Royal Ma- 
rines, and they instantly proceeded to his hotel for the 
purpose of carrying their determination into effect. 

Bernadotte, who had been absent at the commence- 
ment of the disturbance, fortunately arrived at the 
Marquess's hotel when the infuriated mob were ad- 
vancing in the greatest tumult, to execute their design. 
He immediately went forward to address themj and 
notwithstanding the frenzied state in which they had 
approached the Marquess's hotel, the cool and deter- 
mined manner of Bernadotte arrested, in an instant, 
their design. But when, however, it was perceived 
that his object was to impress them with the inhuman- 
ity and injustice of their wishes, many of the most 
violent cried out to him, that his addresses were una- 
vailing; that he must concur in their determination to 
murder the Marquess, and that they had nominated 
him, Bernadotte, colonel of the Royal Marines, in his 
place. 

Although the soldiers of Bernadotte's corps had 
mingled with the mob, and the men composing the 
other corps at that time in Marseilles, Bernadotte 
readily perceived that the former coincided in the ad- 
dress he had made, and having therefore drawn to- 
gether a number of them, sufficient to protect the Mai^- 
quess's abode, he immediately exclaimed to the rioters 
in the most energetic manner: — "Marseilles, as you 
assure me that I possess your confidence, I will prove 



34< 

to you that I deserve it. I tlien absolutely declare, 
that I will not allow you to dishonour yourselves by a 
most base assassination. If the colonel is guilty, the 
law will render justice: citizens and soldiers are 
not executioners: I request you then to retire, as 
before you will obtain the head of the colonel, you 
must deprive me and the brave men who surround me 
of ours." This manly appeal had the desired effect; 
the mob quickly dispersed, and Bernadotte received 
the grateful thanks of his colonel and all the officers 
belonging to the corps. 

Bernadotte, after this act of heroism and justice, 
became clerk to the parliament of Pan, the town of his 
nativitj'^ and on the establishment of the national 
guards, he was appointed adjutant in those of Pau. — 
In 1793 he was promoted to the rank of colonel in the 
army of the north, where he commanded the 72d regi- 
ment of line infantry. During the latter year the fol- 
lowing circumstance took place, which called forth in 
Bernadotte, all the fire of his nature and warmth of 
temper. 

A high spirited officer. General Goguet, who, in the 
space of a year, had risen from the ranks to the com- 
mand of a division, finding he could not rally his men, 
who had been routed, by words, endeavoured to gain 
that point by giving to several, blows with his sword:*= 
one soldier, however, who had been thus treated, and 
who had lost sight of every respect to an officer whom 
he considered as possessing but little, if any, talent, 
on the general repeating his sabre blows shot him 
through the head. 



• Tlie code milUarre of the French army authorizes an officer to strike any one run- 
ing away from an enemy. 



35 

Colonel Beruadotte had received several marks of 
favour from the unfortunate ,^eneral; and from princi- 
ples of gratitude and respect, entertained for him the 
warmest affection. Added to which, his regard for 
military discipline, and for the respect that is due 
from soldiers to their officers in every service, deter- 
mined him to employ the utmost exertion to punish the 
assassin. He therefore immediately demanded from 
the commanding officer in whose corps the assassin 
served, that the culprit should, without loss of time, 
expiate by his death, the crime he had committed. 

A i)lea of defence was directly advanced, that the 
soldier was innocent, having only repelled force by 
force. This plea was supported both by the officers 
and men of the corps to which the assassin hel&Ttgedf 
and it was not till after Colonel Bernadotte had ad- 
dressed them in the most warm and eloquent manner, 
on the disgrace with which they would be covered, if 
they protected the murderer; and satisfactorily prov- 
ed that they would be infringing on the military regu- 
lations of the service, and expose themselves to similar 
conduct, that the criminal was given up, when he was 
instantly condemned and shot. 

Soon after this period. Colonel Bernadotte was ap* 
pointed to the command of General Kleber's advanced 
guard, and at the attack near Marchienne au Pont, 
was very much distinguished. 

Bernadotte, at this attack, for the first time, bad to 
execute the important duties of a general officer in the 
field of battle; and he conducted himself in such man- 
ner, as to obtain from the commander-in-chief of the 



$ 



m 

attny in which he served, General Kleber, the follow- 
ing highly flattering remark: 

"You have manoeuvei^ed like an old general, and I 
shall find it equally a pleasure, as it is also a duty, to 
announce to the Representatives, that though it is only 
your first attempt as a general, you have, by your 
ability, shewn yourself worthy of commanding your 
brave grenadiers. 

At the siege of Charleroi, General Bernadotte was 
actively engaged, as well as at the seigeof Maestricht, 
and the battle of Fleurus, in all of which he acquired 
much praise from Iiis commander-in-chief; and from 
the humane conduct he constantly evinced, and by 
sharing with the meanest soldier in all the hardships 
of the campaign, he rendered himself very much be- 
loved and respected by the whole army, and by the 
inhabitants of the several towns and fortresses which 
fell to the French arms. 

General Bernadotte, in command of a division of 
General Kleber's army, after the fall of Maestricht, 
occupied Bonn, Cologne, and Coblentz; and in 1795 
he was entrusted with the blockade of Mentz on the 
Cassel side. 

After General Clairfait had forced the lines of 
Mentz, General Bernadotte was sent with his division 
to the Hundsruck, to arrest tlie progress of a corps 
(jeneral Clairfait had detached in that direction. 

General Bernadotte vigorously attacked the town of 
Creutznach, which was occupied by apart of the Aus- 



37 

trian troops, succeeded in carrying it, aifid pursued* 
the routed enemy, taking many prisoners. 

The armistice, concluded towards the end of Decem- 
ber, 1795, occasioned a momentary suspension of hos- 
tilities. Shortly afterwards, General Kleberf ma- 
noeuvred with the left of his army in the environs of 
Wetzlaar, and General Bernadotte advanced upon the 
Rower Lahn. 

Theterrour which the arms of the- French had in- 
spired in every direction, superseded all considera- 
tions but that of deprecating their hostility upon any 
terms. The late distinguished and lamented General 
Moreau's passage of the Lech had induced the Elec- 
tor of Bavaria to make overtures to that accomplislied 
veteran officer for a pacification. This indeed has 
been done by every prince and city that had not been 
able to resist the arms of General Moreau. 

The Diet of Germany, convened as usual at Ratis- 
bon, in a sitting on the 30th of July, for the purpose 
of consulting on the situation of affairs, gave evident 



• Wliilst in pursuit of the Austriaus, a circumstance occuwed, -which, from its singu- 
larity, deserves notice. General Poncet, who had the command of a division of reserve 
to support General Bernadotte, on reaching Creutznach after the departure of the lat- 
ter, was informed that several officers had quitted the ranks, and were refreshing them- 
selves at an inn. The general hastened thither, and ordered the officers to rejoin their 
regiments: they refused to do so, alledging that they had ate nothing for thirty .sue 
hours. Poncet fell upon them with flat strokes of the sabre, and many of them took to 
flight. One more obstinate than the rest placed his hand upon his sword, and sai4 
haughtily to Poncet, "that he had always been partial to the point, and not the blade." 
The general, an excellent fencer, answered him, "As you like," and attacked the officer, 
who parried in the presence of more than twenty witnesses. After five or six thrusti 
without eftSjctj Poncet run his sabre through the body of his adversary, who fell dead at 
his feet. "It is thus," said Poncet, wiping his sabre on the clothes of the deceased, "I 
treat all arguers."— Fjrfe General Sarazins's "Philosopher." 

t This distinguished officer made frequently the following observation: "I do not like 
the proud— I pity fools— I defeat cowards— aod I abhor deeeit and uptruth." 
6 



proofs that they partook of the universal consterna- 
tion which pervaded the empire. 

The deputies of the princes and states of the empire 
came to a determination of opening a negociation for 
peace with France, All the members of the Diet ac- 
ceded to it, except the deputies from Austria and Bo- 
hemia, who ascribed the disasters of the war to want of 
union among the states of tlie empire, and their back- 
wardness to second their chief, the Emperour, in the 
common defence of their country. 

But the dangers apprehended from the French ap-' 
peared greater than that of opposing the desire of thcj 
Emperour: a decree was passed by the Diet, seriously 
to remonstrate to him, that in the present circum- 
stances of the empire it was necessary, conformably 
to the wish of its divers members, to put an end to a 
war that had been so calamitous, and no longer to de- 
fer the concluding of a peace upon reasonable condi- 
tions. 

Not content with this address to the Emperour, they 
looked upon the situation of the Diet as so precarious, 
that they commissioned deputies to repair to the 
French armies, to stipulate with the generals for the 
security and protection of the Diet, and for the public 
documents and archives in its custody, and for the 
jieutrality of Ratisbon itself. 

In this extremity the Archduke Charles, with great 
firmness of mind, determined to make a resolute at- 
tempt to extricate the Diet and the empire at once 
from the humiliating condition to which they were 
reduced. 



39 

The Archduke was at this time so hard pressed by 
the late General Moreaii, that he could scarcely judge 
which of the two difficulties required most his atten- 
tion; that of opposing General Moreau, whom he couM 
not but regard as a most formidable ad%'^ersary, or of 
hastening to the succour of General Wartensleben, 
who was opposed to General Jourdan, but who at this 
period had been continually unfortunate in every 
affair that took place between his corps and that of th« 
French General, 

General Jourdan had invariably maintained a supe- 
riority over General Wartensleben, and pushing him 
^'rom post to post, was now advanced within a day's 
march of Ratisbon; no time was therefore to be lost in 
marching to his assistance. This was become the 
more indispensable, as a strong (Jivision of General 
Jourdan's army had been dispatched, under the imme- 
diate orders of General Bernadotte, with directions 
to proceed forthwith to Ratisbon, 

The latter circumstance determined the Archduke 
Charles as to the proper step he should pursue: leav- 
ing, therefore, a strong corps of observation, under 
General Latour, to watch and report to Iiim the mo- 
tions of General Moreau, he rapidly advanced towards 
Ratisbon. 

On the 17th of August the Archduke crossed the 
Danube at Ingolstadt, with the design of throwing 
himself between General Bernadotte and Ratisbon. 
General Jourdan on the same day had attacked War- 
tensleben in his encampment at Sultzbach: the army 
of the latter had received some reinforcements from the 
Archduke, and was more than equal in number to the 



40 

French. The action was obstinately contested on 
both sides: it lasted from early in the morning until 
elcA'^en at night, when the French obtained possession 
of the ground on which the battle had been fought. 

In the midst of the engagement, General Jouinlau 
iiad directed General Championet to march with a 
strong division towards Augsbourg, in order to pre- 
vent the Austrians stationed at the latter place from 
coming to the assistance of their brother soldiers at 
Sultzbacli. On his route to Augsbourg, General 
Championet fell in with the Austrians, and attacked 
them with so much impetuosity, as to oblige them to 
fall back on that town. The French army, early on 
the 28th, moved towards the Austrians, w^ho were 
strongly posted in fi'ont of Augsbourg: the latter, 
however, did not w^ait the attack of the French, and 
forced them from the position they had taken. After 
■a well-Cought action, the French regained their post, 
and following up their success, obtained possession of 
the heights before Augsbourg, and obliged the Austrians 
to retreat across the Naab, there to wait the arrival 
of reinforcements. 

The Archduke Charles, on receiving intelligence of 
tlic defeat of General Wartenslebcn at Augsbourg, and 
his subsequent retreat behind the Naab, instantly al- 
tered the direction of his route, and advanced to Hem- 
man, which place he reached on the 20th August. 
General NauendorfT, who commanded tlie vanguard of 
the Austrian army, was immediately directed to pro- 
ceed and take possession of the hciglit of Taswaug, 
while Lieutenant-general Hotz marched with a co- 
lumn towards BcUugricss, to secure the Ai'chduke's 
left, and the road from Ratisbon to Nuremberg. 



41 

General Nauendorff on tlie 22d, attacked the divi- 
sion under the orders of General Bernadotte at the 
village of Tenning. A sanguinary engagement en- 
sued, which was attended with various success dur- 
ing the whole day. 

The village was several times taken and retaken, 
the streets were strewed with dead hodies, and towards 
evening, the village was set on fire by the Austrians, 
under the impression, that by such means they would 
be enabled to dislodge the French, who were entrench- 
ed in the houses. 

About this period, the left of General Bernadotte's 
corps was attacked by the right of the Archduke's 
army, and the 88th regiment of line, ipfantry, which 
was upon that point, obliged to retreat. 

By the last success, the Austrians acquired posses- 
sion of the grand road of Neumarkt, the only road by 
which the French could retreat; and the situation of 
General Bernadotte and his army w^as thus rendered 
extremely critical and dangerous, unless he could suc- 
ceed in repelling his adversary. 

Placing himself, therefore, at the head of his re- 
serve,* and undismayed by the fatigue his troops had 
suffered during the whole day, (the engagement hav- 
ing lasted from day-break, and it being at the time 
late in the evening,) he determined on a most vigor- 
ous attempt to retake the ground his left had lost. 

General Bernadotte had always the greatest reli- 
ance in his troops; he knew they were warmly atlach- 

• A battalion of grenadiers of the 37th regiment of line, infantry, and of the 7th regi- 
ment of dragoons, composing a force of about 5000 strong. 



4:2 

ed to him, and that he possessed the esteem and love 
of every man in his armj; a linowledge few officers in 
the French service could at that period boast of. This 
was a time to put their fidelity and attac hment to a 
trial: the men were exhausted with continual hard 
fighting, the reserve were dispirited by the ill success 
of their companions on the left, and nothing but the 
energetic spirits of their general could rouse them to 
any prompt and vigorous exertion. He put himself at 
their head, and addressed them in bold and animated 
terms — 

''Soldiers and my friends, 
"You know what care I have always taken of your 
welfare since I had the happiness of commanding such 
brave fellows as yourselves; the moment is now arriv- 
ed for testifying your grateful sense of it, deserving 
well of your country, and covering yourselves with 
glory." 

A general enthusiasm ran through the French ranks 
at the conclusion of this address; the soldiers answer- 
ed with cheers, *'that they were ready to follow General 
Bemadotte to the bottom of hell." 

Gratified and inspired by the spirit he had kindled 
in his troops, General Bemadotte directed the charge 
to be beat, and advanced with the whole line in close 
columns against the centre of the Austrians. Nothing 
but the ardour by which his men were possessed would 
have encouraged him to this bold step: it was attended 
with complete success; his enemy was staggered at his 
daring movement, and although, in point of numbers, 
three times more numerous, the Austrians offered but 
a weak resistance to the French, and retired in confti- 



48 

sion to their former position. The Austrian General 
Starray's division was nevertheless, dispatched, the 
second evening, hy the Archduke Charles, to threaten 
the left wing of the French, while other columns ra- 
pidly advanced towards Neumarkt. 

The operations of the Archduke, which evinced 
great military talents, rendered it important that Gen- 
eral Bemadotte should adopt the most cautious line of 
conduct, to prevent the destruction of his comparitive- 
ly small army.* By the last movements of the Arch- 
duke, the situation of General Bemadotte was again 
most critical, and at 10 o'clock in the evening of the 
same day, the 22d, he consequently retreated to Neu- 
markt. 

On the following day, (the 23d,) the Austrian caval- 
ry and artillery advanced to the plain of Neumarkt, 
and a warm and destructive lire commenced. Gene- 
ral Bemadotte, finding that his force was unequal to 
withstand a general attack from the superiour numbers 
of his adversary, took advantage of seme tardy opera- 
tions on the part of the Archduke Charle-s, and made 
good his retreat from Neumarkt to the neighbourhood 
of Altdorf. 

General Jourdan having joined the army under 
General Bemadotte, he, on the 27th, directed the lat- 
ter to attack a column consisting of the flower of the 
Archduke's army, and under tbe command of the 
Prince of Lichtenstien and General Kray, which had 
possessed itself of the great road leading from Bam- 
berg to Wurtzburg. Several attacks took place, but 

• The Arcliduke Charles tad 25,000, General Bemadotte not more than 10,009. 



44 

without any decisive success attending either side: the 
37th French infantry was defeated hy an Austrian re- 
giment of light horse, and it would have been entirely 
cut to pieces, if General Bernadotte had not timely 
dispatched a regiment of chasseurs to its aidj a sharp 
contest ensued, which ended in the overthrow of the 
Austrian liglit liorse. 

Towards the close of the day, General Jourdan dis- 
patched instructions to General Bernadotte, "that he 
must cut himself a passage, sword in hand;" hut after- 
wards directed a retreat along the right hank of tlio 
Maine, which General Bernadotte executed in the most 
perfect order. 

The battle of Wurtzburg was fought by General 
Jourdan in direct opposition to the wishes of General 
Bernadotte and General Kleber, and neither of these 
officers were engaged: the former, General Berna- 
dotte, reported himself unwell, a large tumour having 
formed in his forehead, whilst the latter took the com- 
mand of some troops stationed at Schwemfurt. The 
consequences of the battle were such as General Ber- 
nadotte and Kleber* had predicted. General Jourdan 
was defeated, and obliged to form a rapid retreat, after 
experiencing a loss of 4500 men in killed and wound- 
ed; and in a short time afterwards, the Directory, dis- 
satisfied with liis conduct, recalled him from the army, 
to answer before them for his disastrous proceedings. 
When General Jourdan received this peremptory or- 
der, he essayed to obtain from Generals Kleber and 

• On some officers observing on the injustice of tiie Dircctorj', in tlie presence of 
General Kleber, at the time he was neglected by that asscmblv, and superseded by 
M. Bounioiiville in the command of his army, he remarUed— "Soldiers oiig;ht to obey 
and be silent. If I had succeedeil in getting myself decix'ed a Itgislator, I should ha\e 
demanditl with energy the ivform of abuses. As lung as I slipll remain a general, I 
iliall e\pose my breast for the defence of government, and turn my back upon those 
governours, who, lIKo the present oiies./are xuiworthy of the confidence of llie nation." 



45 

Bernadotte a certificate of his good conduct: they, 
however, absolutely refused any compliance with his 
wishes. 

General Bernadotte was highly exasperated against 
him. In the battle of Wurtzburg, the flower of his, 
Bernadotte's, corps had been entirely destroyed, and 
he justly regarded the commanding general as ex- 
tremely culpable, in having exposed, by a rash and in- 
defensible movement, the brave fellows entrusted to 
his command. 

General Bernadotte, on being pressed by Jourdan 
to give the certificate already mentioned, observed, 
<*I can only give yon an attestation of imbecility; 
every body knows you are an honest man, a brave 
soldier, and a good citizen; but it is for the public in- 
terest that the government should be well convinced 
that you are incapable of successfully commanding in 
chief, even four men and a corporal." 

Some time after the above affair, a few individuals, 
jealous of the high name and respect General Berna- 
dotte had acquired, endeavoured by calnmnious re- 
ports to lower him in the esteem of his friends: they 
industriously circulated a report in Paris that he was 
extremely mercenary, and had levelled contributions 
on the inhabitants of Nuremberg,* which had very 
much enriched him. 



• General Sarasin has observed, tliat the burgomasters of Nuremberg offered Gen» 
eral Bernadotte a considerable present in gold, which he refused, though it had been 
observed to him, that the Prussian and Austrian generals had never required much 
pressing to accept of smaller considerations. Bernadotte replied, "that every one 
was master of his own actions, and that the only reward he required of the magis- 
trates, in return for keeping his troops in good discipline, was, that tliey would pay 
the greatest attention to his sick a^d wounded." 



These reports were communicated to the General, 
and their falsity occasioned in him so much mortifica- 
tion, and anger, that he came to a determination of 
relinquishing the command he held, conceiving that 
in a less humhle sphere he should he removed from 
that calumny which is always levelled, hy the mis- 
chievous and ill-disposed, at tliose in power and ex- 
alted situations:, he therefore addressed the Directory, 
for permission to retire on half-pay, and entered into 
an explanation of the circumstances that occasioned 
his application. The reply of the Directory, though 
it negatived this request, was couched in the most 
flattering and complimentary terms. He was recom- 
mended to punish with contempt the malevolence of 
those who could not know how to appreciate his ser- 
vices, and who only envied him, because he was their 
superiourin every moral excellence. And they con- 
cluded by observing, "that the French government 
relied on his talents and patriotism still to continue 
ably serving his country." 

General Bernadotte was now directed by his friend. 
General Kleber, to take the command of a division of 
15,000 men, which the Directory had required to join 
the army of Italy, under the order of Buonaparte; 
and in the month of February, 1797, he effected the 
passage of the Alps with his army in the most perfect 
ccmdition. 

The soldiers, however, on reaching Milan, were 
■extremely dissatisfied, and actually refused to proceed: 
their pay was greatly in arrear, and there aj)peared 
to them no chance of its being paid up during the 
campaign. In this exigency, General Bernadotte 
was obliged to emjdoy all his talents of persuasion 



47 

and firmness: he first addressed them with promises, 
and stated that the arrears should be discharged on 
the troops reaching Mantua; but Mantua offered in 
the opinions of the soldiers as little possibility for 
their payments as Milan, and they replied to their 
general, that though they entertained for him every 
respect and regard that soldiers sho'uld, when under 
the command of a distinguished officer, they were 
nevertheless determined on not marching from Milan, 
before they received the whole of the pay due to them. 

General Bernadotte perceived that persuasion was 
useless, and that the whole were governed by the 
opinions of a few: he immediately altered his tone, 
and addressing his men with the greatest firmness, he 
observed— 

'^Soldiers, 
*<If you refuse obedience to my command, I am 
authorized by the military code, to kill every man who 
refuses to march against the enemy, and either you 
shall have the ignominy of having assassinated your 
general, who has been so long a fatlier to you, or I 
will run my sabre through the body of every muti- 
neer." 

After this address the general marched to the right 
of the 90th regiment, and pointing his sword to the 
breast of the first grenadier, he ordered him to wheel 
to the right, unless he preferred to be run through the 
body. The soldier obeyed, and the whole army fol- 
lowed in regular order. 

This anecdote alone is a sufficient proof of the in- 
trepidity and firmness of the character of the Crown 



48 

Prince of Sweden, and from it, every one may readily 
perceive that he w ill not be thwarted in any measures 
or proceedings he may think it necessary to adopt, by 
trivial causes or timid opposition. 

General Bemadotte*s division at the passage of the 
Tagliamento, on the 17th of March, 1797, was posted 
on the right of Buonaparte's army. The Austrians 
had hastily thrown up intrenchments on the left bank 
of the Tagliamento, but as it was almost every where 
fordable, and as the French could effect the passage 
out of the reach of the enemies batteries, they became 
almost useless. 

The French marched to the right and left of the en- 
trenchments, and under the protection of a numerous 
artillery and a crowd of sharp-shooters, the passage 
of the Don was effected, though not without opposi- 
tion and loss on the part of the Austrians. The 
French infantry on effecting a landing, were immedi- 
ately charged by the Austrian cavaliy, and the former 
were for some time obliged to give way; but being 
afterwards supported by theii* own cavalry, the Aus- 
trians, notwithstanding every exertion, were compelled 
to give way, and finally, to make a rapid retreat, after 
experiencing a loss of six pieces of cannon, a great 
number in killed and wounded, and from four to five 
hundred men in prisoners. 

On the following day, the 18th, tlie French army 
entered and took possession of the fortress of Palma 
Nuova. The same day tlie army advanced as far afj 
the Torre, its left stretching to the foot of the moun- 
tains bordering the plains of Friuli. 



49 

On the 19tli, the French marched to the Izonzo, and 
the town of Gradiska, situated on the right bank of 
that river, and which w^as rather a tete de pont than a 
regular fortification, was surrounded by the divisions 
under the command of Generals Bernadotte and Sur- 
rurier. ,» 

General Bernadotte ineffectually endeavoured to 
carry the town by storm, and afterwards sent the fol- 
lowing summons to the commandant: 

"Sir, 
**You have defended yourself like a brave man, and 
by doing so, have acquired the esteem of military 
men; but a longer resistance on your part, would be a 
crime, which I would revenge principally on you; and 
to justify myself in the eye of posterity, I must sum- 
mon you to surrender in ten minutes: if you refuse, I 
shall put your garrison to the sword, 

<« Spare the blood which will not be felt but by your 
fault. The principles of philantropliy, which ought to 
animate every commander, lay the obligation upon 
you. Tlie scaling ladders are ready; the grenadiers 
and chasseurs are impatient for the assault — ^Answer." 

This summons was successful, and the garrison were 
made prisoners of war. The commander-in-chief, 
Buonaparte, expressed great satisfaction at the manner 
in which General Bernadotte conducted this operation; 
and in his report to the Directory, he made the follow- 
ing observation: 

"General Bernadotte caused the enemy's entrench- 
ment to be attacked by the sharp-shooters; but our 



m 

soldiers, carried away by their natural ardour, ad- 
vanced with bayonets fixed, nmler the very walls of 
Gradiska. They were received by a very heavy fir- 
ing of musketry and case shot. General Bernadotte, 
obliged to support tbem, ordered four pieces of cannon 
to be brought forward^ to force the gates; but they 
were covered by a strong redoubt. He sent the Aus- 
trian commandant a summons, and upon wliich he ca- 
pitulated. 

**Three thousand prisoners, the choice of Prince 
Charles's army, ten pieces of cannon, and eight co- 
lours, are the fruits of this manoeuvre. 

"General Bernadotte's division has conducted itself 
%vith a bravery which is a guarantee of our future suc- 
cesses. General Bernadotte, Ids aids-de-camp, hie 
generals, braved every danger, &c." 

At this time the Izonzo was forded by the right of 
the French army, near Cossegliano, while the left 
having forced the passage of Chiusa advanced into the 
valley of the same name, and pushed onto Ponteba, on 
the frontiers of Carinthia, 

The Archduke Charles, who on the 18th, had his 
head quarters at Goritia, finding his position was in 
danger of being turned by tbe French, transferred 
them two days afterwards, to Vippacb, and Buona- 
parte, shortly afterwards, establislied his head quar- 
ters at Goritia, where he remained till the 35th. 

The whole of Buonaparte's army was at the latter 
date, in Carniola and Carinthia. A part of the right 
wing had pushed on to Trieste, and obtained posses- 



oi 

sion of that place. The centre of the army was upon 
tfce Save, and the left wing upon the Drave. 

On the 28th, the left wing arrived at Villach, and 
on the 29th, it, 30,000 strong, advanced against Cla- 
genfurth. The following day, after having obtained 
a slight advantage over the Austrian rear guard, the 
left wing of the French army took possession of Cla- 
genfurth. In the mean time, Xaybach was evacuated, 
the 28th, by General Seckendorft', into which General 
Bernadotte entered on the 30th, and there took up his 
quarters.* 



• General Masseua's division was also quartered at Laybach, and a circumstance 
took place deserving of notice, during the slay of tliesc divisions, the details of which 
I shall here give on the authority of Genera! Sarazin: — 

"General Duphot, of Massena's division, came to play at billiards, without any distinc. 
tive marks of his rank, and made a party with an officer of the 19th regiment of eha;s- 
seurs. The general, an ardent patriot, only made use of the tenn citizen, whilst his an. 
tagbnist called him nothing but monsieur, or sir. Duphot, tired with hearing himself 
spdfen to ina manner which appeared to him as aristocractic, requested himtocall him 
citizen. The officer refused, observing that he knew of no citizeui but before tte tribu- 
nals; and that the appellation of sir, appeared to him the only one proper in the inta- 
course of society. Duphot, nettled at this refusal, gave him a challenge, which the o& 
ficer accepted. The staiiders-by opposed it, unwilling that a general of tlie army of 
Italy should fight with a sub-Iieutenantoftheanny of the Rhine: that was the rank oi 
the officer, who, having learnt the rank of Duphot, also refused to be conceined with 
him, but declared himself ready to accept the match with any officer of his own tank, 
who might think proper to object to his using the word monsieur, (sir.) He vras 
taken at his word, and killed Massena's officer with a sword thrust in the lui^s in the 
presence of several spectators of the two divisions. Massenaand Berandotte were alj- 
sent: The former was gone to Paris, to carry to the Wrectory the ratification of the pre- 
( liminaries of tlie peace of Leoben, by his majesty the Emperour of Gennany; and Ber- 
nadotte was gone on an excursion to Trieste, where he awaited the arrival of his divisiwi.- 
General Brune, who is now a marshal, filled Massena's place. The cause of the fati^ 
dtiel which had just taken place, was very soon known. The jacobins exclaimed loudly 
jigainst the messieurs, who thought proper to kill citizens, and the soldiers of each divi- 
sion immediately flew to arms. General Brune sent for me. (General Sarazin) as com- 
manding per interim Beniadotte's division. He requested me to insert immediately ia 
the orders of the day, 'that it was forbidden to call one another monsieur, and, instead! 
of which, they were ordered to use the tenn citizen,'— rendering me responsible for any 
event that might occur from my refusal. I answered the general, 'that I had my or- 
ders from General Bernadotte; that J knew his sentiments with respect to the affinr in 
question; that I was certain I should infinitely displease him by acquiesing in the mea- 
sure proposed; and that besides, the troops would certainly refuse to adopt that step, 
as quite unconnectetl with theiv railitary duty.' At the »ame moment some one came 



Buonaparte, to whom the time for makin.c^ peace 
HOW appeared the most favourable, on the 31st of 
March, addressed the following* letter to the Arch- 
duke Charles. 

"Sir, and Commander-in-Chief, ""* 

*'Brave soldiers make war and desire peace. Has 
not this contest, in which we are now engaged, lasted 
for six years? Have we not slain a sufficient number 
of fellow creatures, and caused enough of misery to 
afflicted humanity? — She implores on all sides. 

"Europe has laid down the arms she had taken up 
against the French Republic. Your nation stands 

to infonn General Briine, that the 32cl regiment of Massena's, and the 30th reginient 
of Bernadotte's divisions, were under arms in the great place, ready to fight.— We im« 
mediately repaired there. 

Wliilst Brune was pajnng very great compliments to his troops upbti their patriot' 
ism, I requested him to call his officers and subalterns together in the centre of tlie 
square, where I also collected together the officers and subalterns of Bernadotte's divi. 
sion. Colonel Dupuy headed the malcontents. Brune repeated his entreaties, assur- 
ing me, tliat if I would adopt his advice, matters would rest there. I persisted in my 
refusal loudly exclaiming, 'that it was imcomprehensible how officers should be so 
selfish, as to expose the soldiers by the consequences of their quan'el; and that it was 
not in the barracks, but in the field, and man to man, that those who considered them- 
selves insulted, ought to terminate their dispute.' After which, I offered to match my., 
self against General Brune, if it should appear necessary to him. as I called him mon- 
sieur; and I ordered Bernadotte's officers and troops immediately to separate, which 
was done, Biune, on his side, did the same. A gi-eat many individual affairs took 
place, the result of which was fifty killed, and about three hundred wounded; of which 
latter, according to the hospital accounts, two-thirds were of Massena's di>'ision. I 
must say, to the praise of the plenipotentiaries, that tliey waited on me as soon as they 
heard of the dispute between the troops, and entreated me very earnestly to do what- 
ever I tliought would soonest appease it. A rumour was then very wrongfully circula. 
tfd, that Count Merfeldt and Baron Degelman were the instigators of this quarrel. 
On my arrival at Trieste, Bemadotte, who had been informed of all that had passe*], 
returned me his thanks for having so well fulfilled his intentions; adding, that if 1 had! 
followed Brune's advice, he would no longer have employed me about him, as his divi- 
sion had no occasion for lessons of bravery or ci vism from the army of Italy." 

* I have had occasion to notice this document in my memoirs of General Moreau, 
At the periotl it was written, Buonaparte was idolized by those who could not pei'- 
ccive tlie cunning and policy that directed all his actions, and the annals of the English 
history are disgraced by tlie most weak and fulsome panegyricks on "the noble and dis. 
interested conduct of Buonapaitt-.'" 



5B 

alone; and yet blood is about to be more profusely 
shed than evert Fatal presages preside over this 
6th Campaign, Whatever may be its issue, we shall 
yet destroy several thousands of men on both sides, 
and, sooner or later, this struggle must end in a mu- 
tual agreement, since every thing has its turn, even 
the passion of hatred. 

"The desire which the executive Directory enter- 
tains of putting an end to a war that afflicts the two 
nations, was made known to his Imperial Majesty: the 
intervention of the court of London opposed it. Is 
there then no hope of a good understanding between 
us? And must we continue to butcher one another, for 
the interests and the passions of a nation which knows 
not the evils of war? 

"You, Commander-in-chief, whom birth has placed 
so near the throne; who are superiour to the little pas- 
sions which often influence ministers and governments; 
have you resolved to deserve the title of Benefactor 
of Humanity, and True Saviour of Germany? Do not 
suppose, sir, and Commander-in-chief, that I mean 
to imply, that it is impossible for you to save your 
country by the force of arms; but even granting that 
the chance of war should be favourable to you, Germa- 
ny will, nevertheless, be laid waste. As for me Gen= 
eral, if the overture which I have the honour to make 
to you, can save the life of a single man, I shall pride 
myself more upon the civic crown, that my conscience 
will tell me I thus shall have deserved, than upon the 
melancholy glory which arises from military suc- 
cess. 



54 

«I entreat you, sir, and Commander-in-chief, to 
believe in the sentiments of esteem, and high conside- 
ration, with which I am, &c. 

"Buonaparte." 

Reply of the Archduke Charles to the foregoing 
letter. 

*< General, 
"While I make war, and obey the calls of honour 
and of duty, I certainly desire a peace as you do, for the 
sake of humanity, and for the happiness of nations. — 
But, nevertheless, as in the post entrusted to my 
charge, it does not belong to me to scrutinize, or termi- 
nate the quarrel between the belligerent powers, and 
as I have even no full power from his majesty, the 
Emperour, I trust you will find it natural. General, 
that I should not enter into any negotiation upon that 
head with you j and that I should await superiour orders 
upon a subject of such high importance, and which 
does not properly come within my province. 

'^Whatever may be the future chances of war, or 
the hopes of peace, I beg you will be assured, General, 
of my esteem and high consideration, 

"Charles, Field Marshal." 

In consequence of this overture, on the part of 
Buonaparte, the Generals Bellegarde and Meerfelt 
were dispatched by the Empcrour of Austria to Ju- 
dembourg, with full powers to treat concerning a sus- 
pension of arms, or even for a peace. The former 
was mutually agreed to, and would have been of high 
importance to Buonaparte, in the event of a renewal 
of hostilities. It was agreed upon for six days; but 



55 

the articles* of agreement l»ad given to Buonaparte & 
most important line of positions, without a struggle, 
and which, it is more than prohable, he could not have 
gained at that time, by force of arms. At the expi- 
ration of the six days, it was prolonged; and on the 
18th of April, the preliminaries of peace were signed 
at Leoben„ 



To judge accurately of the character and sentiments 
of statesmen, it is not only necessary to consider their 
public acts and opinions, but also to be, in a material 
degree, guided by tlieir private sentiments when such 
are to be ascertained. The opinions of General Ber- 
nadotte, on the republican measures, in the year 1797, 
are, in some measure, to be judged of by the follow- 
ing letter on the events of the ISth Frudidor, 



• Article 1st. There shall be a suspension of amn between the Imperial and 
French armies, commeucing on this night, the 7th of April, and continuing until thp 
night of the 13th inst. 

Article 2d. The French array shall preserve the following line:— The outposts oC 
the right wing of that army shall remain in the positions they now occupy between 
Fiume and Trieste. The line shall extend through Treffen, Lithay, Windish, Feis- 
friz, Marchburg, Ehrenhausen, the right bank of the Muehr, Gratz, Bruck, Leoben, 
Trafiejack, Mautem, the road from Mautern as far as Rottenmann, Irding, the valley 
of the Drave, and LintZi 

Article 3d. A suspension of arms shall also take place in the Tyrol, The Gene. 
wis commanding the French and Imperial troops in that quarter, shall agree togetheR 
upon the posts to be occupied by them. 

Hostilities shall not re-commence in the Tyrol until twenty-four hours after the 
Generals-in-chief sliall have so arranged it, and, at all events, twenty-four hours after 
the Generals commanding the French and Imperial troops in the Tyrol, shall have re-, 
ciprocally warned each other of it. 



56 

Paris, the 18tb of Fnididor^ Sth year. 

(5th September, 1797, old style.) 

«I wrote thee in haste to inform thee, that a new 

royal conspiracy was about breaking out, had it not 

been for the foresight of tli« Directory, who were 

upon the point of being destroyed. 

«'Pichegru, Willot, Villaret Joyeuse, and Rovere 
are arrested. The grenadiers of the legislative body 
have fraternized with the troops of the 17th division, 
as also witii the guards of the Directory. The repub- 
licans have triumphed; not a drop of blood has been 
spilt; consequently, no tears to shed. Guilt sheds 
none, b^it it shall be punished. 

"Every thing goes on well — ^the councils have as- 
sembled; meanwhile, the Directory, in unveiling the 
conspiracy, has proclaimed the pain of death against 
whoever should exclaim, *Long live the King!* or, <The 
Constitution of 1793!' This proves the wisdom and 
the justice of the measures taken. All the people cry 
out, 'Long live the republic!' — and so do I. 

(Signed.) <<J. Beektadotte." 

During the peace between France and Austria, con- 
cluded October 17, 1797, the division of General Ber- 
nadotte was quartered at Treviso, and he devoted 
himself to perfecting his troops in the military art, 
and acquired for them a very high character, both 
throughout the French and Austrian armies. 

'He was afterwards appointed by the Directory on 
an embassy to Vienna, and was received at that court 
in the most flattering manner, A ciicumstance, how- 



5T 

ever, qccuiTed -within a shoi»t time from his arrival, 
that rendered his departure indispensable. 

The inhabitants of Vienna, on the 13tb of April 
1798, had a grand fete, in commemoration of the arm- 
ing of the volunteers levied for the war in 1796. This 
mark of loyalty and attachment on the part of the 
volunteers was recorded among the public acts of gov- 
ernment, and orders were given by the Emperour, that 
its anniversary should be celebrated v,rith ceremonies 
of civil pomp and religious solemnity. The measuro 
was, perhaps, not politic at the moment, as the two 
nations were at peace, and it was not otherwise calcu- 
lated to produce awy necessai'y effect. 

In consequence of this intended fete, General Ber- 
nadotte* was persuaded to celebrate on the same day, 
at his hotel, the victories ^gained by the armies of the 
French republic. Whilst the people of Vienna, were 
engaged in their carousal, the tri-coloured flag was 
hoisted at General Bernadotte's hotel, and instantly 
occasioned a general ferment throughout the city: the 
inhabitants assembled in the most tumultuous manner, 
and surrounded the hotel with cries of — «<Down with 
the republican colours — ^long live the Empei'our!" 

The cry was resisted by the friends of General Ber- 
nadottte, and in a short time a conflict took place be- 



• In the History of Europe for 1799, the following observation occurs: "The con- 
duot of Bernadotte, as well as that of his suite, was marked by an uncommon degree of 
insolence from the day of their arrival in Vienna. Bernadotte imitated the conduct of 
Joseph Buonaparte at Rome, by demanding that the quarter of the city where he re- 
dded should be free, and that all Frenchmen residing in Vienna should be amenable to 
him only for their conduct. He was in the habit of conversing with the Austrian pri= 
vate soldiers and non-commissioned officers, and remarking to them, that it was only 
under a republican government that a man could rise from the ranks, as Jie had done, 
o|r be a general officer and an ambassadour."— Vide Annual Reguter. 



08 

tween his people and the inhabitants. The flag was 
torn to pieces, and the standard to which it was at- 
tached burnt. The resentment of the people, once 
excited to action, could not stop here; they burst open 
the gates of the hotel, threatening to sacrifice the am- 
bassadour, as well as his suite, to their vengeance. 
Every thing they found on the ground floor of the 
hotel they demolished, and seizing two of General 
Bernadotte's carriages, they dragged them, the one 
to a neighbouring square, the other to the court of 
the palace, and broke them to pieces. 

General Bernadotte perceived that his life was in 
imminent danger^ it was exposed to a headstrong 
multitude, heated with wine and national feelings; the 
windows of his hotel were all broken, many of the 
doors forced, and it was apparent that nothing but 
force on his part would protect his own person from 
their fury. 

He directed his attendants to fire on all who should 
attempt any farther entry into the hotel. Many were 
consequently wounded, but this step put an end to 
the assaults of the populace. 

Notwithstanding the riot and tumult occasioned by 
the inhabitants of Vienna at the hotel of General Ber- 
nadotte, it was not till some hours after its commence- 
ment, and when the people had dispersed themselves, 
that the military made their appearance. This last 
circumstance occasioned much mortification to the 
French general; he conceived himself entitled to the 
strongest protection of the Austrian government, 
while acting as the ambassadour of a friendly power; 



59 

and it was evident that no exertion had been made 
to protect him from the insults offered. 

On the following day he dispatched one of his se- 
cretaries with a letter to the Emperour, requiring, as 
conditions of his continuing at Vienna, 

1st, The dismissal of the minister, Thuguet^ 

2d, The punishment of the mayor of Vienna^ 

3tl, The establishment of a privileged quarter in 
the city of Vienna for the French mission and its com- 
patriots^ 

4tb, That the Emperour should repair, at his own 
expense, the flag and the flag-staflf, and the picture of 
the French arms. 

These demands being peremptorily refused, Genei- 
ral Bernadotte, notwithstanding very pressing solici- 
tations for his stay from the Emperour of Austria, in- 
sisted upon having his passports, and immediately de- 
parted for Rastadt. 

The court of Vienna lost no time in making a hu- 
miliating communication to the French Directory, and 
offered every satisfaction that could prevent a renewal 
of hostilities between the two powers. Humiliating 
concessions to the Directory carried with them more 
influence over the minds of that degenerate assembly, 
than every other step; and consequently, this business 
was treated at the moment with indifference/and hush- 



60 

ed up as much as possible, although it was afterwards 
made one of the grounds for complaint.* 

For the ostensible purpose of explanation, and pre- 
venting any disagreeable consequences that might 
arise from this popular explosion, a secret conference 
was opened at Seltz, on the Rhine, opposite Rastadt, 
between the Count Cobentzel on the part of his Impe- 
rial Majesty, and Baron Neufchateau on that of the 
Directory. 



• Extract from the Manifesto of the French Republic, or Message of t!ie Directory tt 
the Councils, stating the Reasons of France for declaring XVar against tlit Emperouf 
of Germany and the Grand Duke of Tuscany, 

"If at the first news of this event, the Directory had not bad some foundation Stt 
seeing in it only the work of two courts eager to revive the war upon the continent; 
if tliey could have believed that the Eraperour was acquainted with the plot fabricated 
cnder his eyes, they would not have hesitated a njoraent to incite the national ven- 
geance against so outrageous a violation of the state of peace and the rights of nationt 
which had been so religiously respected by the republic, even in the midst of the most 
Tiolent storms of the revolution But it was possible, that the cabinets of London and 
Peterehurg might have prepared and directed by their agents, a tumult, neither 
known nor approved by the Emperour. The expressions of regret convex ed, in the first 
moments after the occurrence,by M. de Coloredo to the ambassadour of the republic, 
and the announced appointment of M. Degelman to Paris, were motives tor tliinking 
that the imperial court would hasten to investigate and punish an attack, whose exis- 
tence it acknowledged, and of which it feared to appear the accomplice. When it 
was also known, that the minister, who was accused of hanug seconded the 
fury of England and Russia, had resigned his piace to the Count de Cobentzel, 
and that the latter was to proceed to Seltz, to make reparation, the Directory 
could not repent haTOig occasioned these conferences. They shewed themselves less 
ready to yield to the first impulse of a legitimate resentment, than eai-er to remove by 
mutual explanation, every thing that opposed the establishment of the most perfect 
harmony. Such was their desire to produce conciliation, that the envoy-extraonlinary 
of the republic was definitely instructed to content himself^ in reparation for the 
event at Vienna on the I3th of Apiil. with a simple disavowal, and a declaration that 
endeavours would be made to discover the guilty. But scarcely had the conference* 
been opened at Seltz, when the imperial court altered its tone and its conduct; Baron 
Degelman did not proceed to Paris, M de Thuguet returned to the miuibtry; and the 
investigation which had been commenced, remained tniavaihng and ineffectual.— 

The Count tie Cobentzel, instead of offering or giving the reparation which was the 
principal object of his mission, affected to dirt ct the discussion to other points. He 
concluded by declining all satisfBclien, even that with which tlie republic would have 
contented herself, ivlun he was convinrt'd that the Uirrciury wotdd not listen to the 
insinuations hy ivhiih the couj't of Vienna ivislied to render her, in the midst even of 
peace, an accomplice in tlie strangest spoliatiom" 



61 

The Count declared, that although his Imperial Ma- 
jesty was ready to grant ample satisfaction for what 
had happened, in regard to General Bernadotte, yet, 
from a due regard to the sentiments of the people of 
Vienna, it was necessary to conduct this business 
without precipitation, and without noise. 

The interests of both countries, be said, seemed to 
require that the conferences at Seltz should be chiefly 
devoted to the settlement of some more material 
points, which called for a definitive arrangement. 

Neufchateau having acquiesced in this proposition. 
Count Cobentzel went a step farther, and proposed, 
that as the congress of Rastadt was a mere farce, 
acted on the part of the empire under the imperial ca- 
binet and ecclesiastical courts, the negotiation for 
peace should be carried on entirely, and brought to an 
issue, at Seltz; at the close of which it would be easy 
to force Prussia and the empire to admit what had 
been agreed on between Austria and France. By 
command of the Directory, Neufchateau rejected the 
latter proposition, but entered into the discussion of. 
other proposals. 

General Bernadotte perceiving the actual state of 
affairs, instantly set out from Rastadt for Paris; and 
on his arrival, he was offered by the Directory a com- 
mand in one of the interiour provinces of France, and 
which he indignantly refused. 

Some communications afterwards took place be- 
tween the General and the chief members of the Di^ 
rectory, and he was persuaded to accept the appoint- 
ment of ambassadouF to Holland; before which, how- 
9 



62 

ever, he addressed the following epistle to the Dii'ec-^ 
tory: 

**Citizen Directors, 
"The minister for the foreign department has in- 
formed me, that you had appointed me minister to the 
Batavian republic: the advantages offered by such an 
honourable mission are certainly flattering; and al- 
though far from my country, I should be very much 
pleased to live among men who know the social bene- 
fits; but I am prevented from complying with your 
wishes in that respect, because I am totally displeased 
with diplomatic functions. 

"I have explained very fully my sentiments in a dis- 
patch anteriour to the affair of Vienna: you know I 
was by no means flattered by the embassy to the Em- 
perour of Austria; and that in obeying, I intended to 
give the Directory another proof of my devotion to the 
republic. Were I going to live with the descendants 
of John de Wit, and de Tromp, the Batavian repub- 
lic would find in me a sincere admirer of its glory, and 
a warm partizan of its prosperity. Your knowledge 
of mankind will not fail to unite in my successour the 
same zeal, the same purity of intention, and the same 
eagerness to forward your benevolent views. 

*<The approbation that you bestow on my military 
and diplomatic conduct is respectfully received. Every 
thing relative to my second career is interesting to me, 
on account of the errours which several journalists have 
committed in the accounts which they have given to 
the public. It affords me pleasure to believe the time 
is not far distant, when the policy of the government 



63 

will permit tlie French nation to be informed accord- 
ing to the exact truth, &c. 

(Signet!) "J. Bernadotte." 

When the negotiations at Rastadt were terminated. 
General Bernadotte was appointed to the important 
situation of General-in-chief of the army of observa- 
tion; and he shortly after received instructions to 
blockade Philipsburg. 

On the 2d of March, a detachment of thje army of 
observation had taken possession of the town of Man- 
hcim, in consequence of a capitulation; and on the 
same day General Bernadotte presented himself be- 
fore Philipsburg, which, in compliance with the treaty 
of Campo-Formio, was only garrisoned with troops of 
the Austrian empire, commanded by tlie Rhingrave 
of Salra. 

General Bernadotte sent the commandant a sum- 
mons, in which the blame of the renewal of the war 
was imputed to the proceedings of the cabinet of Vien- 
na. He observed, that the taking possession of the 
town of Ulm made it necessary for the French to 
seize upon Pbilipsburg; and stated that the garrison 
of the latter place was not in a state to defend it. 

General Bernadotte also observed — "I must tell you 
yet farther. General: I know that your garrison is 
discontented; that the officers of it are too wise and 
enlightened to lavish their blood, to gratify the self- 
ishness and caprice of a few arrogant men; and 
that the soldiers only wait the signal of attack to 
declare their dissatisfaction. When the inhabitants 
ghall see that their houses are soon to become a prey 



64 

to the flames, they will presently determine which side 
to take. The artillery of Landau, wliich is advancing, 
Will furnish them with what they have long waited for, 
a sufficient motive to compel their commandant to de- 
liver up the keys. 

"The terrible example which General Mack has 
given to all those who lead soldiers to battle against 
their will, must have afforded you ample matter for 
alarming reflections. But without adverting to those 
considerations, the army under my command has suf- 
ficient means to compel the fortress to surrender. I 
cannot repeat often enough. General, that I will not 
place a garrison in your fortress as an enemy — far from 
it; I mean only to hold the place for the German empire; 
and I call the world to witness, that I declare that I 
will restore Philipsburgh to the empire, as soon as the 
French government shall be satisfied that the empire 
can defend it against the ambition of the Jiouse of Aus- 
tria, 

"Should you oblige me to give orders for the as- 
sault, I am sure I cannot hut succeed, as the number 
of troops I have with me, and the other means I pos- 
sess, render it impossible I should fail. But the pun- 
ishment of those who have been the cause of resistance 
to the French republic, shall be terrible; tior will Ire- 
strain the rage of the soldiers, who will give way to 
their fury against you."* 

* I will Dot attempt a defence of this summons, to threaten a soldier with a terrible 
punisbment, for faithfully aod conscientiously discharg;ing his duty, and to declare 
that no measures should be taken "to restrain the rage of the soldiers'" was imitating tiie 
language of the Directory of France: and a mode of proceeding, whith from late o» 
cnrrences, it is to be supposed the Cro\vn Prince of Sweden would shrink from. I 
cannot however avoid drawing a comparison between this summons and the conduct 
of General Moreau, in 1794. When General Moreau summoned the town of Sluy« 
to surrender, its goveroour, Vaudeidayn^ replied, "The hoooui of defending a place 



65 



Reply of the Rhingrave of Salm, 

« General Bernadotte, 
«<Your letter which was brought to me by Adjutant 
Goudin, is of such a nature as I could not have ex- 
pected to receive at this moment, when peace is on 
the point of being signed between the German empire 
and the French republic. Surely General, it must be 
your own opinion, that I should be culpable, were I to 
deliver up a fortress, the command of which has been 
entrusted to me by the General-in-chief of the army of 
the empire. He is not far distant; and the place 
where the deputies to the congress for the peace of 
the empire now meet, is still nearer. 

*«The orders and instructions which I may receive 
from those two quarters, will regulate my conduc t.— 
While, in expectation of these orders, which, when I 
receive, I shall immediately communicate to you, at 
present I can only act as every man of honour must 
act in my place. 

*<The situation of the fortress under my command, 
is not such as you appear to believe, nor do I know of 
any discontent among the garrison. I must, therefore, 
declare to you, that I will not receive a French garri- 



like Sluys, that of commanding a brave garnson, and the confidence reposed in me 
■are my only answer." It was early in the month of July, that General Moreau first 
set down before Sluys, and the brave garrison, determined on resisting the rapid ad< 
Tances the French had made in their occupation of the Austrian Flemish provinces 
and towns, continued to make a most vigorous defence until the 25tb of August when 
it surrendered. The soIdier-like resistance which they displayed, induced General 
Moreau with Roman greatness ot mind and true glory, to grant advantageous condi. 
tions to the garrison, and he strongly expressed his pride and satisfaction in having 
been opposed to soldiers of such determined gallantry.— Tjefc the AiUAor'i Memoirs of 
General Moreau, p. 25. 



66 

son into the place, nor commence hostilities, though I 
will resist any attack. The assailants will be answer- 
able to our contemporaries, and to posterity, for all 
the calamities which may follow, in consequence of 
this attack. 
**Auttenheim, near Philipsburg, 
«2d March, 1799," 

The inundations forming the principal defence o f 
Phyipshurg, its fortifications having been rebuilt only 
with earth. General Bernadotte was prevented from 
approaching near enough to be able to speedily reduce 
the place; and, notwithstanding the declaration con- 
tained in his summons, that he could not but succeed, 
as the number of troops he had with him, and the other 
means he possessed, rendered it impossible he should 
fail, he w^as compelled to turn the siege into a block- 
ade, and even this he was under the necessity of rais- 
ing soon after. 

In the mean time. General Ferino, commanding the 
right wdng of General Jourdan's army, proceeded 
along the valley of the Rhine, through the Forest 
towns, and arrived on the 5th of March at Engen, and 
on the 6th at Blumberg. The space between the latter 
place and Schaffhausen was occupied by a demi-bri- 
gade, detached from the army of Switzerland, to 
establish its communications with that of Mentz. 

Tiie centre of General Jourdan's army divided 
itself into two columns, which advanced, one by the 
valley of Hell, and the other by the valley of Kinche, 
both directing their course towards that of the Da- 
nube. 



67 

General Jourdan, who had accompanied the latter 
column with his staff, had his head quarters at Gen- 
gembach on the 3d; on tlie 4th at Haslach, on the 5th 
at Hornberg, and on the 6th at Villingen. At the 
latter date, the vanguards of the two centre columns 
had arrived, one upon the left, and the other upon the 
right bank of the Danube. 

The left wing, which took the road to Kniebis, under 
the orders of General St. Cyr, ari'ived at Frydenstadt 
on the 2d, quitted it on the 4th, traversed the Duchy 
of Wurtemburg, directing part of its force towards 
Rothweil, and part towards Tubingen, and reached 
the Necker at the same time that General Jourdan 
arrived on the Danube. 

Thus on the 6th, the whole French army was beyond 
the mountains of the Black Forest. Its right was at 
Blumberg, near Schaffhausen, and its left at Roth- 
weil. The array of observation at the same time 
spread itself into the country of Hesse Darmstadt, and 
into the Palatinate, and was busily employed in re- 
pairing the fortifications of Manheim. 

The different corps of General Jourdan's army ex- 
perienced in their march no impediments, as the Aus- 
trians w-ere still at a great distance, and the Duke of 
Wurtemberg, the only prince who could have thrown 
any obstacle in their way, observed the strictest neu- 
trality, to which he was compelled, by the armistice 
subsisting between France and the empire,* by his own 
military weakness; and, still more, by the dread of 
giving the French a pretence for revolutionizing his 
states. 



68 

The French plenipotentiaries had, during the win- 
ter, taken advantage of their residence at Rastadt, 
and of the diflferences then existing hetween that 
prince and his subjects, to dispose the latter to revolt. 
That the entry of the French into the Duchy of Wur- 
teraburg did not produce a revolution in that state, is 
to be attributed to the consciousness of the uncertainty 
attending military events, and to the hope entertained 
by the French of being able to detach the princes of 
the empire from the cause of the Emperour. 

Notwithstanding the promises of General Jourdan 
the French contented themselves with preying upon 
the Duchy of "Wurtemberg, and treated it almost as 
badly as the Brisgaw, on which they had levied all 
kinds of contributions. Their amity with the new 
Elector of Bavaria did not even protect the Palatinate 
from their rapacity. 

The absolute necessity, under which the French 
government laboured, of subsisting its armies, and 
the impossibility of doing that at its own expense, 
outweighed every other consideration. The district 
of Rastadt was alone respected; that town was declar- 
ed neutral, and General Jourdan gave a safeguard to 
the Congress, which, being almost separated from 
Germany by the advance of the French armies, and 
having moreover but a very precarious and limited 
communication w ith the rest of the empire, gave hopes 
to the cabinet of the Luxemberg of realizing its pro- 
ject of a partial pacification. 

» 
The Directory relying as much on the success of 
its arms as on its political intrigues, and on the talents 
of General Jourdan as much as on those of the nego- 



( 



69. 

tiators, Bonnier, Roberjot, and Jean Debry, with an 
affectation of Roman pride, changed the name of the 
army of Mentz to that of the army of tlie Danube, 
and appointed General Joiirdan Commander-in-chief 
of the three armies of the Lower Rhine, the Upper 
Rhine, and of Switzerland. 

General Bernadotte commanded the first, and Gen- 
eral Massena the last of these two armies, under the 
superiour command of General Jourdan. 



General Bernadotte was in a short time called from 
his command of the army of the Lower Rhine, to fill 
the post of War Minister. The successes of the 
Austrians in Italy, combined with the reverses the 
French armies had began to experience in Germany, 
very much alarmed the leading members of the Direc- 
tory. It became evident to them, that to again obtain 
success, the French war department must be entrusted 
to the control of a minister whose expansive mind 
would enable him to direct the whole military force of 
the empire in such manner as to insure it a reasona- 
ble probability of success. General Bernadotte was 
considered as an officer well qualified for so important 
a trust, and to him it was confided by the unanimous 
consent of the Directory. 

The following very just observations are made by 
Madame la Baronne de Stael Holstein, on these 
events: * 

• Vide her "Appeal to the Nations of EiBBpe.?* 

10 



70 

"Never since the commencement of the war had the 
military situation of France been worse. The flat- 
terers of Buonaparte had not failed to ascribe the sal- 
vation of the French republic to his return from 
Eg3'pt*: it has been his constant practice to appropri- 
ate to himself the successes which were prepared for 
him by others. The revolutions which took place, 
even in the interiour of the Directory, had disorganiz- 
ed the armies, and caused their revei'ses. A man, who 
has since been called to higher destinies, by his genius 
and activity, succeeded, in a ministry of two months 
duration, in reforming the disorders, the dilapidations, 
and abuse of every kind, which were at their height. 

'♦The armies were reinforced, provided with every 
requisite, and, as it were, created again — in this man- 
ner General Bernadotte secured, as a minister, the 
victories which he knew how to gain as a soldier. As 
a consequence of the re-establishment of the armies, 
the English were driven out of Holland: Massena re- 
sumed the offensive in Switzerland against the Rus- 
sians, and Morcau made head against the Austrians in 
Italy, before Buonaparte had done any thing more for 
the republic than to seize upon the supreme power." 

General Bernadotte made eveiy exertion to repair 
the state of the French armies, and to restore confi- 
dence to the troops^ but it was very evident that the 
means within the reach of the Directory, were not equal 
to the projects they had formed, and, in the execution 
of many of them, they therefore consequently failed. 

• On Buonaparte's retum from Egypt, the Directory ordered General Bernadotte, 
the minister at war, to arrest the fugitive general, and to try him by a military tribu- 
nal. This order, Bernadotte declined to execute, and apprised Buonaparte of his dan- 
ger, generously supposing that imperious circumstances, and not any want of akill or 
courage prevented the success of the expetlition to Egypt. 



71 

The month of July and the beginning of August, 
although not marked by any g^i-eat military enterprize, 
were devoted to projects and military measures for fu-. 
ture operations. The French pressed the levy of 
their conscripts, composed battalions of them, and 
formed two new armies: one of them was destined to 
act upon the Rhine, and invade Franconia and Suabiaj 
the other, under the name of the army of the Alps, 
■was to cover France on the side of Dauphine and Pro- 
vence; to act offensively in Piedmont; and also to co- 
operate with an army which occupied the Genoese. 

They likewise marked out a camp near Geneva, to 
defend the entrance of France by the way of the Va- 
lais and Savoy. They wei'e at once taken up in con- 
certing defensive measures, as well as offensive pro- 
jects; and they supposed that under the direction of the 
war minister. General Bernadotte, they should, before 
the end of the campaign find victory brought back 
under the colours of the four republican armies of Ita= 
ly, of the Alps, of the Danube, and of the Rhine, 

The expectations, however, of General Bernadotte, 
were not so sanguine as those entertained by the Di- 
rectory. He foresaw the utter impossibility of carry- 
ing into execution those points relating to the French 
army, which he conceived essential, and this consider- 
ation, together with his conviction, that the Directory 
were totally incompetent to the discharge of their 
offices, in a manner that would benefit the French 
nation, finally determined him, General Bernadotte, to 
tender his resignation, and which was instantly accept- 
ed by that body, the members composing it, having 
prior to this event, and within a few days, received ad- 
vice, that it was General Bernadotte's wish to see the 



7^ 

Directory displaced, and which, although not general- 
ly credited at the time, certainly occasioned much mis- 
trust. General Bernadotte retired to a small house in 
the Fauxbourg de Mousseaux, and gave himself up to 
domestic enjoyments. 

General Bernadotte, however, did not resign his 
trust, before he had given many proofs of great bene- 
volence and magnanimity; one instance I shall intro- 
duce. The Duke D'Enghien, in 1799, came secretly 
to Paris, Buonaparte was tlien in Egypt, the govern- 
ment was without force, and the Bourbon party hoped 
to regain its power. The Duke D'Enghien confided 
in General Bernadotte, through a common friend, his 
being at Paris, and offered him the post of Constable 
of France, if he would restore the Bourbons. "I can- 
not serve their cause," replied he, *'but as the descen- 
dant of a hero, and as a man who has placed confi- 
dence in me, no harm shall happen to him: let the 
Duke depart instantly, for his secret may in three 
days, be no longer mine." The Duke D'Enghien de- 
parted without molestation, and retired to the territo- 
ry of Baden, whence he was treacherously seized, 
and assassinated by Buonaparte. 

In August, 1798, General Bernadotte had married 
an amiable woman of the name of Mademoisselle 
Clary, sister to the wife of Joseph Buonaparte, 
and whose father was a rich and respectable merchant: 
on the 6th of July, 1799, he was blessed with a son, 
who in conformity with the ruling fashion of the day, 
was named Oscar.* 

•"Buonaparte had brought the poems, attributed to Ossian, into fashion, and the 
great qualities attributed to Oscar, bj' the Scottish bard, induced Bernadotte's choice. 
His greatest pleasure was to mine this baby, hardly tluee months o\ii."—Satfizin''s 
Philqsoplifr. 



"Whilst General Bernadotte was in the plenitude of 
domestic enjoyments, and devoted to the care of his 
wife and infant, the political affairs of France, again 
raised him from his state of inactivity. 

Joseph and Lucien Buonaparte were constant visit- 
ors at the house of General Bernadotte, and on the 
arrival of Napoleon from Egypt, all his family met at 
General Bernadotte's mansion, to concert the steps 
which should be pursued. Whether the subject of this 
memoir was deceived or not by the professions, or in 
the designs of Napoleon, is to be determined by a re- 
view of the proceedings that took place during the 
years, 1799, and 1800. 

It has been stated by a French officer*, who was in 
habits of intimacy with General Bernadotte, that three 
days before the 18th Brumaire, Buonaparte who had 
settled every thing with the Councils of Ancients and 
of Five Hundred, still lulled Bernadotte with the hope 
of taking him as a colleague with Sieyes or with Ro- 
gerducosj he particularly declared his firm resolution 
to maintain the republican form of government, and to 
give a marked preference to all those who had given 
proofs of attachment to the revolution. 

The same officer asserts that General Bernadotte 
assured him, the following conversation took place on 
the 18th Brumaire, with Buonaparte. 

Buonaparte. — "I can flatter myself at last, my dear 
Bernadotte, with having succeeded in making a part 
of the Directory, and the leaders of the two councils 

* Geperal Sara^^n. 



74 

agree upon the measures to be taken to save the coun- 
try. The council of ancients have nominated me Com- 
mander-in-chief of the 17th division, comprehending 
the guard of the Directory, and grenadiers of the Le- 
gislative Body. I have been obliged to make some 
alteration in my first plan, that I might not startle the 
civil party by the appearance of a government com- 
posed of military men. Sieyes will be second consul* 
and Rogerducos the third. As first consul, I preserve 
every means of suitably rewarding my fellow la- 
boui^rs, and of ameliorating in every respect, the situ- 
ation of the army. You may easily guess, that my 
two colleagues are, properly speaking, only for form- 
sake, and that I am the real depositary of the supreme 
authority, which I assure you, I will only use to re- 
store peace and prosperity to France. You may be 
persuaded of my eagerness to do every thing that may 
be personally agreeable to yourself, as well as to your 
friends. We are going to the Council of Ancients." 

The reply of General Bernadotte, to this address, is 
reported by the same officer to have been, "This then, 
traitor, is the result of all your brilliant promisesj you 
wish to destroy the republic, to establish yourself the 
tyrant of France. You shall not commit this horrible 
crime until you have deprived the country of one of its 
most intrepid defenders — be on your guard." Buona- 
parte on this opened the door of his saloon, in which 
were assembled more than fifty general and staff offi- 
cers.* 

I have the best authority in stating, that General 

• Theauthenticity of tliis statement, rests upon the authority of General Sarazit^ 
who, whatever may be his militar)- talents, loyalty, fidelity, or his claims upon the Bri- 
tish government, has certainly shown by his writings, that he possesses most exten- 
sive information uq all the proceedings immediately prior aud subsequent to the new* 
lutioD. 



75 

Bernadotte totally disagreed in the proceedings of the 
18th Brumaire: he informed Buonaparte that if the 
Directory should nominate him to fill any public post 
of importance, he should immediately exercise his 
power in opposing the schemes Buonaparte had com- 
municated to him, but, that as an individual he per- 
ceived it would be fruitless, and he should therefore 
retire from Paris. The Directory actually nominated 
General Bernadotte military governour and comman- 
dant of Paris: but Buonaparte, sensible that he would 
carry his promise into effect, made every exertion 
and finally succeeded in having the appointment can- 
celled. 

Notwithstanding the disapprobation General Ber- 
nadotte expressed at the first proceedings of Buona- 
parte and on the events of the 18th Brumaire, he very 
shortly afterwards accepted the high ofiice of coun- 
cillor of state,* and in March, 1800, the appointment 
of Commander-in-chief of La Vendee and of the coast 
of Bretagne. He was deprived of his offices by the 
detection of a plot in which his aid-de-camp Maj'bot, 
was concerned. 

A number of proclamations against Buonaparte, 
were seized by the police in the possession of Marbot, 
who was imprisoned as well as his accomplices, and 
the military command and councillorship taken from 
General Bernadotte. 

A reconciliation afterwards took place between the 
General and Buonaparte, and on the nomination of 
the latter Emperour of France, General Bernadotte 



• Buonaparta was most fully acquainted with the gieat talents of General fiema- 
dotte, and fearing that they might he converted to his overthrow, he had made every 
effort to conciliate him. 



76 

was one of the first who signed the document. He is 
also reported to have made the following address to 
Buonaparte on this occasion. 

*'I thought for a long time, Sire, that France would 
not be happy under any but a republican form of gov- 
ernment. To the hearty persuasion of the excellence 
of this paradox, your majesty must attribute the con- 
duct I have pursued for more than three years. En- 
lightened by happy experience, I feel much satisfac- 
tion in assuring you, that my illusions are entirely 
dissipated. I beg you to be persuaded of my eager- 
ness to execute any measures that your majesty may 
prescribe for the good of the country. I moreover de- 
clare to you, as well as to all my friends here present, 
that I share the sentiments which General Murat has 
just delivered you in the name of the army, not politi- 
cally and by word of mouth, but with heart and soul." 

Buonaparte rewarded General Bernadotte for his 
support, by appointing him one of the Marshals of 
France, and ga\^ him a command at Hanover. The 
latter he held till August, 1805, when he was directed 
by Buonaparte to march with 15,000 men to Wurtz- 
burg, where he arrived on the 23d of September, hav- 
ing proceeded by the route of Gottingen and Frank- 
fort, and was there joined by 10,000 Bavarians. 

The combination of Austria and Russia, and the 
military preparations made throughout those empires, 
determined Buonaparte, who had for some time devoted 
himself to maturing his projects for an invasion of 
Great Britain, to march without delay his whole mil- 
itary force in order to disperse and destroy the combi- 
nation, which he perceived was formed against him. 



He immediately reinforced his army in Italy, dis- 
mantled his flotilla at Boulogne, and directed the 
principal of his troops in Holland and in Hanover, 
under General Bernadotte, to march by the most ra- 
pid movements, and the most direct routes to meet the 
Austrians, who were collecting on the Danube, and 
60,000 men were decreed to be raised by conscription 
to recruit the armies. 

Buonapartfe now prepared to place himself at the 
head of his troops; but prior to his departure from 
Paris, he went, on the siSd of September, to the se- 
nate house, and caused to be read to that body an ex- 
position of the comparative conduct of France and 
Austria, since the conclusion of the peace of Lune- 
ville.* Buonaparte's earnest desire to have preserved 
the peace of the continent, was in this document par- 
ticularly dwelt upon, and it was concluded with a so- 



Tlie follnving Statement of the Losses sustained by the Continental 
sequence of the War, concluded by the Treaty of Peace at Lunevilk, 
is correct and deserving of notice^ 

Tenitovy. 
German mites Population, 
squaie. 
Austria loses, includ-'^ 
ing the Milanese, Mo- }- 10601-2 3,629,455 

dena, Tuscany, &c. J 
The Princes of the-) 

Left Bank, 31 in }. 885 1,960,575 

number lose - - - • -j 

The 43 Counts, wbohad~i 
possessions on the ^ 75 182,630 

Left Bank, J 

The Abbayes and Chap-") 

ters, which had sepa- J. 42 1-2 109,500 

rate doBaains, - . • - J 
The Equestrian Order 20 1-2 52,000 

The Chapter of Cologne i 2,500 

The Imperial Cities, 57 ^ 99 000 

in number 3 ' 

Holland, including hev\ 

ancient Belgic pos- J- 80 218,000 

sessions - J 

The Imperial Chamber 7 
of Wetzlaar - ... - 5 

Tqtal loss 2,168 1-2 6,253,690 

11 



Fmvers in con- 
February, 1801, 

Reyenue, 
florins. 

9,314,135 
14,163,134 
1,391,922 

1,254,500 

409,300 

16,800 

521,000 

1,300,000 

21,600 



28,392,391 



78 

lemn declaration, "that the Emperoup of the French 
would never lay down his arms until he had attained 
full and entire satisfaction, and complete security as 
well for his own estates as for those of his allies." 

The senate upon this passed a decree for raising 
80,000 additional conscripts, and Buonaparte informed 
the senators "that he was about to place himself at 
the head of his army, in order to succour his allies. 
That the war had already commenced by the invasion 
of Bavaria, the Elector of which had actually been 
driven from his territories." He exhorted the French 
people to support their Emperour in the present un- 
provoked war, and concluded in the following words: 

"Frenchmen, your Emperour mil do his duty, my 
soldiers will do theirs, you will do yours." 

Joseph Buonaparte was appointed to superintend 
the government, during the absence of his brother; 
the latter quitted Paris on the 24th of September, and 
on the 26th arrived at Strasburg. 



1803. 



The French army destined for the scene of ac- 
tion, consisted of six divisions, and was estimated at 
140,000 men. The first corps, under Marshal Ber- 
nadotte, marched from Hanover, as already stated, 
the second corps, under General Marmont, proceeded 
from Holland to Mentz, and passed the Rhine at Cas- 
sel; Marshal Davoust, commanding the third corps, 
passed the Rhine at Manheim on the 26th September, 
and advanced by Heidelberg and Neckar-Eltz on the 
Neckarj Marshal Soult, commanding the fourth corps, 
passed the Rhine on the same day as Davoust, by a 
bridge thrown over it at Spires, and advanced towards 
Heilbrun, on the Neckar; the fifth corps, under Mar- 
shal Ney, likewise crossed the Rhine on the 26th, op- 
posite Dunlach, by a flying bridge, and marched to- 
wards Stutgardt; and Marshal Lannes, with the sixth 
corps, passsd the Rhine, on the 25th at Kehl, and ad- 
vanced towards Loujsburg. The reserve of cavalry, 
under Murat, passed the Rhine at Kehl, and took up 
a position before the defiles of the Black Forest,* The 
park of artillery passed at the same place on the 30th„ 
and advanced upon Heilbrun. 

Buonaparte, with his staff and guards, crossed the 
Rhine at Kehl on the 29th, and on the following day 
reached Louisburg.f 



* This was evidently with a view of making the Austrians believe the French 
anny meant to take that route. 

t It is necessary to enter thus minutely into the movements of each division of the 
Fiencb aimy throughout the campaign of 1805, in order to tumish the reader with & 



80 

Marslial Bernadotte and General Marmont formed 
a junction with the Bavarians at Wurtzburg on the 
SOth, and commenced their march to the Danube. — 
The rest of the divisions pursued the different routes 
to that river, and on the 4th of October, the French 
army was posted in the following manner: 

Marshal Bernadotte and the Bavarians at "Weissen- 
berg; Davoust at Atlingen; Soult at Donawert; Ney 
at Kesingen; Lannes at Neresheinj and Murat on the 
borders of tlie Danube. 

Marslial Bernadotte, on the 6th, reached Aichste- 
tin; and on the 7th, took possession of Ingolstadt.— . 
Hitlierto nothing of importance had taken place: an 
action was fought on the 6th at Wirtengen between 
the cavalry, under Murat, and a considerable body of 
Anstrians, and which terminated to the advantage of 
the former. The different corps had continued to ad- 
vance, and on the 7 th the troops were reviewed by 
Buonaparte, near Zusmershausen. 

The next action was at Guntzburg, betv/een Ney 
and a strong corps of Austrians who had advanced 
from Ulm: the latter were defeated, and obliged to re- 
treat to Ulm. 

In the mean time. Marshal Bernadotte, with the left 
wing of the French army, crossed the Danube at In- 
golstadt, and took up a position at Pfufferhausen; 
wliilst the main body of the French army proceeded 
to Augsburg. 

distinct view of t)iose particularly entrusted to Bernadotte. The Austrian army 
cuutisted of between 80 and 90,000 men, under the coiunumd of General Mack, and 
bad advanced to the defiles of the Black Forest. 



81 

The Fpencli army being noW placed between the 
Austrian forces, under General Mack, and Vienna, 
Marshal Bernadotte was directed to advance to the 
Inn, to make head against the Austrian and Russian 
reinforcements: the force under his orders, amount- 
ing to 40,000, he immediately put in motion, and on 
the 12th entered Munich, when he took 800 prisoners. 
Every thing rested upon the bold and rapid move- 
ments he should now make, and he therefore instantly 
crossed the Inn, and continued iiis march on the high 
road to Brannau, where the first Russian column had 
arrived, and joined the troops under General Kein- 
meyer, which had evacuated Bavaria, and fallen back 
upon that fortress. He fell in with some Austrian de- 
dachqjents on the 15th at Wasserburg and Haag, a^id 
made some hundred prisoners. He next took up a 
strong position near the Inn, from which he could ob- 
serve the combined army* and attack them to advan- 
tage, should they attempt a passage over that river. 

Buonaparte, who, with the remainder of his army, 
had marched against General Mack, was, by the 
above able disposition of Marshal Bernadotte, ena- 
bled to direct his main strength against the Austrian 
General, and finally to surround him in Ulm, and cut 
off all communication with the Austrian states. 

The right wing of the Austrian army, under the 
Archduke Ferdinand, was posted at Memmingen, 
against which the left wing of Buonaparte's army, 
under Marshal Soult, was detached. 

On the 13th, Soult arrived before Memmingen, and 
the Archduke retreated to Biberach. Memmingen 



having surrendered by capitulation,* to the French 
general, who, immediately afterwards advanced in 
pursuit of the Archduke, in the direction of Biberach. 

The Archduke, however, having retired from Biber- 
ach towards Ulm, Marshal Soult directed his course 
towards Bregentz, with the design of intercepting 
that pass into the Tyrol. Thus the Archduke had no 
other medium than to attempt forcing his way through 
Franconia, to Bohemia, or to be comprised in the fate 
of General Mack's army. 

He determined on the former, crossed the Danube, 
and advanced by Nordlingen and Nuremberg. 

The French Generals Murat and Lannes vigorously 
pursued the Archduke, and overtook him at Nordlin.» 
gen, where a division of 12,000 men, under General 
Werneck, were compelled to lay down their arras. 
The Archduke continued his retreat, and was ag'ain 
overtaken between Traun and Nuremberg, where he 
lost a considerable number of men in prisoners. Mu- 
rat and Lannes here discontinued the pursuit, and the 
Archduke, with the remnant of his gallant corps, 
made good his retreat. 

General Mack who was now completely shut up in 
Ulm, had no means of escape. The surrounding army 
was more than four times superiour in point of num- 
bers to that under the Austrian General, and tliere ex- 
isted no probability of bis effecting an escape by at- 
tempting to open a passage through the French force. 

• The most striking articles in the capitulation were, that the garrison, to the 
amount of many thousands, should be prisoners of war, and the ofiicers released upon 
their parole, and suffered to retain their propert}', for the conTeyance of which t)ip 
French itipulated to provide carriages. 



On the 15th, Buonaparte having made preparations 
for storming Ulm, issued an address to his troops, 
wherein he informed them, that "the following day 
would be an hundred times more celebrated than that 
of Marengo, but that merely to conquer the enemy, 
would be doing nothing worthy either of yourselves, 
^r of your Emperour. Not a man should escape, and 
that government which had violated all its engage- 
ments, should first learn its catastrophe, by your arri- 
val under the walls of Vienna." 

After the above address, General Mack was sum- 
moned to surrender, with a threat in case of refusal, 
that Ulm should be instantly stormed. After a short 
deliberation General Mack agreed to surrender the 
city of Ulm, with all its artillery and magazines, and 
that the garrison, (consisting of about 30,000 men) af- 
ter marching out with all the honours of war, should 
lay down their arms; the field oflicers to be allowed to 
return to Austria upon their parole, but the subalterns 
and soldiers to be sent prisoners into France, there to 
remain till exchanged. 

By the 5th article of the capitulation, it was fur- 
ther stipulated, that **If, nevertheless, there should 
appear by noon of the 25th of October, an army, ca- 
pable of raising the blockade of Ulm, the garrison of 
the fortress should, in that case, be released from the 
present capitulation, and at liberty to act as it may 
think fit." 

Although this article was consented to by the French 
chief, he, impatient of the delay it would occasion, 
persuaded General Mack, in an interview which took 
place on the 19th, to sign an additional article, (on 



84^ 

the assurance of Marslial Berthier, that no succour 
could possibly arrive before Ulni) by which he agreed 
to evacuate the place, and surrender the army on the 
following day, the 20th, on the condition that the corps, 
commanded by Marshal Ney, should not advance be- 
yond ten leagues from Ulm and its environs, before 
the 25th at midnight.* 

After demolishing the fortifications of Ulm, and 
Memmingen. Buonaparte on the 31st set out for 
Augsburg, on his route to Bavaria, taking with him 
all his army, excepting the corps under Marshal Ney, 
and on the 24th he arrived at Munich. 

The French chief now determined on advancing to- 
wards Vienna with the main body of his army, and 
on the 28th the centre eifected a passage over the Inn, 
near Brannau. 

In the mean time. Marshal Bernadotte, who had 
advanced by Wasserburg, proceeded on the 27th to 
Altinmarkt, and the Austrians and Russians finding 
tlieir force inadequate to resist the passage of the Inu 
retired towards Vienna. And the remainder of the 
French army having passed that river Marshal Ber- 
nadotte was detached from the left of the army to the 
right, in order to occupy Saltzburg, so as to be in a 
situation to intercept the communication between the 
army under the Archduke Charles in tlie Venetian ter- 
ritory, and the Austro-Russians; a corps of 6000 Aus- 
trians retreated before the arrival of Marshal Berna- 
dotte, in the direction of Wells. 



• It is pi-incipnlly for consenting to this article, tliat tlie conduct of General Mack 
has been so generally reprobated, as it is very evident tliat notliing but tlie height of 
folly and iinpcudence, or Tillany, could hare induced him to so di$g;Taceful a step. 



Marshal Bcrnadotte directed General Kellerman, 
commandin,^ the advanced guard, to instantly pursue 
the retreatin,5 f'orps, and that officer came up with the 
Austrians at Pasling, and compelled them to retire 
with the loss of 900 men in prisoners. 

By the movements of the suhject of these memoirs, 
Buonaparte was enabled to rapidly advance towards 
the Austrian capital, and the allies took up a position 
behind the Ens. 

Buonaparte made arrangements for attacking the 
allies in their present position, but his superiour 
strength, and the boldness and skill of his movements, 
determined the allies to retire towards Vienna. 

At Amstettin a stand was made by the Russians, to 
petard the astonishing progress of the French: the 
former were, however, defeated, but not until they 
had occasioned a severe loss to the attacking force. 
After this affair, proposals were made by the Empe- 
rour of Austria for an armistice, as a preliminary step 
towards a negotiation for a general peace; and Buo- 
naparte expressed his readiness to accede to the wishes 
of the Emperour, on condition that he would cause the 
allied troops to return home, the Hungarian levy to be 
disbanded, and a French army to occupy the duchy of 
Venice and the Tyrol. These demands were con- 
sidered inadmissible by the Emperour. 

In the mean while, military operations were active- 
ly continued. 

On the 8th of November, Davoust had attacked 
General Meerfeldt near Meniazel, and defeated him 

1^ 



86 

with great loss. Davoust, on the following day, pur- 
sued his route along the great road leading to Vienna, 
whilst Marshals Bernadotte and Marmont remained 
on the right, to observe the Austrian Commander-in- 
chief, the Archduke Charles, who was retreating be- 
fore Massena. 

On the 7th, the Emperour, with his court, had quit- 
ted his capital, and retired to Bninn, in Moravia. On 
the 11th, the advanced guard of the French army ap« 
peared before Vienna; and on the 14th, Buonaparte 
made his entry into that city. 

The French army, after five successful actions, on 
the 10th and 11th advanced so rapidly into Mora- 
via, that the Emperour was obliged to remove his court 
from Brunn to Olmutz. 

Whilst these operations were carrying on, Marshal 
Bernadotte, who had made a circuit to the right of the 
French army, by Saltzburg and the confines of Hungary, 
passed the Danube to join the main French army. 

Generals Murat and Lannes came up with the Rus- 
sian army at Holbrunn on the 15th, when the Russians, 
finding themselves much pressed, had recourse to a 
stratagem,* which, however, was unsuccessful. The 
Baron Winzingerodc, aid-de-camp to the Emperour of 
Russia, presented himself at the French advanced 
posts with a flag of truce, and demanded leave for the 
Russian army to capitulate, and separate from the 

• The Russian gcBerel wai jnsiified in this step, by a tiroilar device having bcea 
used by General Murat, who. after marching through Vienna, had found a corps of 
Austrian! stationed at the bridge over the Danube, for the purpose of destroying it in 
case of necessity. Murat immediately rode up in full speed to the commanding officer. 
Prince Auersberg, and assured him on bis word of honour, that an armistice bad been 
concluded; and by this ar-ifice he prevented the destruction of tlie bridge, which 
would have ooosidertbl; retarded the advanccmeat of the French into Moravia. J< P> 



S7 

Austrians. Murat communicated the circumstance to 
Buonaparte, who, suspecting the stratagem, refused 
to agree to the terms, and ordered the troops to ad- 
vance. 

During the parley, the Russians had made prepara- 
tions for retreat: they were, however, attacked at 
Guntersdorff, and compelled to give way, after losing 
2000 prisoners and as many in killed and wounded. — 
The loss on the part of the French was not inconside- 
rable. 

On the 17th, Buonaparte's head-quarters were at 
Znaim, and on the 20th at Brunn. He next advanced^ 
and took up a position near Wiskau; between which 
place and Olmutz the Austro-Russians were posted; 
there the Russians received reinforcements, and a 
general and decisive action appeared to be determined 
on by both armies. 

The state of the opposed armies was nearly equal 
in point of numbers: the French amounted to from 70 
to 80,000 men; the Russians to 50,000, and the Aus- 
trians to 25,000. The French, however, were flushed 
with victory, full of confidence, and led on by skilful 
generals; whilst great licentiousness and relaxation 
prevailed in the force of tlie allies. To the latter cir- 
cumstances, must be attributed the determination of 
the allies to risque a general and decisive battle, — 
The Russians were commanded by General Kutusoff, 
the Austrians by Prince John of Licbtenstein. 

Marshal Bernadotte, whose corps had only joined a 
day or two before the main French army, and who, in 
prder to rest his troops, remained in the rear, was 6ir 



88 

rected to take post near the village of Girschikowitz. 
Marshal Bernadotte's corps, composed of the divisions 
of Rivaux and Drouet, formed the centre of the 
French army. 

The right of the French army was under Soult, and 
placed between Kobclnitz and Sokolnitz. The divi- 
sion of Le Grand, forming the extreme right, was 
posted between Kolnitz and Tellnitz, and occupied 
three villages w ith strong detachments of infantry.— 
Murat's cavalry was in the rear of Marshal Berna- 
dotte, and on his left; and Lannes formed his left 
wing with the divisions of Suchet and Cafferelli: this 
last was connected with the left of Murat. The di- 
vision of Vandamme was on the left, and that of St. 
Ilildire in the centre of Marshal Soult's corps. The 
reserve, composed of twenty battalions, the whole un- 
der Duroc, was near Turas. 

On discovering the intention of the allies to risk a 
general battle, Buonaparte addressed his troops, stat- 
ing that the Russian army, which they had beaten at 
Holbrunn, and who had been flying before them, were 
now in tlieir front, to avenge the defeat of the Aus- 
trians at Ulm; that the French army occupied a for- 
midable position, and that while the enemy marched 
to attack his right, they would expose their flankj 
and tliat he should himself direct all the battalions, 
and if victory became for a moment doubtful, that he 
should put himself in front of the battle; that this vic- 
tory would finish the campaign, and that a peace 
would follow, worthy of his people, his army, and 
himself. 

The action began on the 3d of December, soon after 
dawn of day, on the left wing of the allies: a corps. 



89 

under General Kienmeyer, posted in front of Aujut, 
was nearest the French, and destined to force the de- 
file of Tellnitz, and to carry the village of that name 
as soon as possihle, in order to open a passage for the 
first column, which had a great circuit to make before 
it could arrive at a point which would bring it in a 
line witli the second column. 

On a hill, in front of the last-mentioned village, 
some French infantry were posted^ these General 
Kienmeyer first attacked, and after two repulses, he 
succeeded in gaining possession of it. The village 
was still defended by the French, and the action had 
continued for above half an hour, when the first Rus- 
sian column aproached, and a force was immediately 
detached to tlie support of General Kienmeyer. The 
French also received a reinforcement from General 
Davoust, and a sudden fog coming on, the latter re- 
took the hill beyond the village. After the fog, the 
allied troops moved forwards, and the French aban- 
doned the village. 

The allies having now passed the defile, and occu- 
pied the plain between Tellnitz and Turas, their next 
object was to form a communication with their second 
column; but this, and likewise the third column, had 
been checked by apart of the division under Le Grand, 
which occupied Sokolnitz, and in passing that village, 
some confusion in their movements occasioned them 
farther delay. 

The want of concert and consistency in the move- 
ments of the Austro-Russian army was not lost sight 
of by the French chief, who perceiving, that by the 
circuitous route the left of the allies was obliged to 



90 

take, it became more distant from the centre, in pro- 
portion as it advanced, immediately determined on 
marching with his massy columns against the centre, 
and by that manoeuvre he expected to cut off the left 
wing, which continued to advance for the purpose of 
turning the French army in a position it did not oc- 
cupy.* 

The reserve of the French army, during this ope- 
ration, remained upon the heights between Schlapa- 
nitz and Kobelnitz, whilst Soult, with the two divi- 
sions of St. Hilaire and Vandamme, traversed the vil- 
lages of Kobelnitz and Puntswitz, to attack the 
heights and the village of Pratzen. 

Marshal Bernadotte, at the same time, after having 
crossed the rivulet at the village of Girschikowitz, 
with the division of Rivaud on his left, and that 
of Drouet on his right, took his direction on the 
heights of Blasowitz. On the left of Marshal Ber- 
nadotte, the cavalry under Murat formed in several 
lines, and marched between Girschikowitz and Krug; 
and Lannes, having the divisions of Suchet, and Caf- 
farelli on his left and right, moved forward to the left 
of Murat. 



• The imperfect knowledge tlie allies possessed of their enemy's poiition, although 
scarcely out of the range of the musketry, rendered the suppositions upon which their 
plan of attack was founded very indefinite. They imagined the French had weakened 
their centre to reinforce their left; the allies outtlanked the right of the French By 
passing the defiles of Sokolnitz and Kobelnitz, it was supposed tlie right of the French 
would be turned, and tl)at the attack might afterwards be continued iu the plain be- 
tween Schlapauitz and the wood of Turas, thus, avoiding the defiles of Schlapanitz 
and Bellowitz, which it was believed covered the front of the French position. The 
plan was therefore to vigourously attack the right of the French army; to rapidly pssi 
the TOlley between Tellniu and Sokokitz: the right of the allies on which was the 
cavalry of Prince Joluj of Lichtenstcin, and the adranced corps under Princ» Braga* 
tion, was to cover this movement. The first of these generals, on the plain between 
Knig and Schlapanitz.on each side of the causeway, and occupied the heights, retreated 
between Dwaroschna and the Inn jf Lesd), with his artillery. 



From this period, the centre and right of the al- 
lies became engaged in all quarters: the Grand Duke 
Constantine was destined, with the Russian guards, to 
form tlie reserve of the right. At the appointed hour 
he quitted the heights in front of Austerlitz, to ap- 
proach those of Blasowitz and Krug. On reaching 
them, he was attacked by the sharp-shooters of Ri- 
vaud's division, and Murat's light cavalry under Gen- 
eral Kellerman. With every expedition, the Grand 
Duke Constantine marched to occupy Blasowitz with 
the light-infantry battalion of the guards. Prince 
John of Lichtenstein arrived at the same time with 
his cavalry, and detached ten squadrons for the pro- 
tection of the left flank of Prince Bragation's divi- 
sion, which was opposed to part of Murat's cavalry. 

Prince John found the Grand Duke in presence of 
General Kellerman's corps of cavalry, supported by 
the infantry of Marshal Bernadotte's left, and Mar^ 
shal Lannes's right. It was determined to charge the 
French, and the movement was executed with intre- 
pidity, but with too great precipitancy; for the French 
cavalry retiring through the intervals of their infan- 
try, the Russian calvary pursued: but being thus 
placed between the fire of Caifarelli's division on their 
right, and that of Rivaud on their left, the Hulans lost 
about 400 men, and the Archduke's regiment, which 
had been the first to deploy, was put completely to 
the route: In this state it reached the corps under 
Bragation, who had now moved forwards from Po- 
rorsitz, to oppose Lannes's left, which rested on Kova- 
lowitz; three battalions of Russian infantry occupied 
the villages of Krug and Holubitz. 

Tho centre of the allied army, it will be observed. 



^ 92 

had been very much weakened by the strong force de- 
tached to so .s^reat a distance on tlieir left, with the in- 
tention of turnin.o' the right of the French, while the 
division on the right was not sufficiently strong to di- 
vide the French forces. 

In the centre the Anstro-Ilussians did not exceed 
12,000 men, while the force Buonaparte had engaged 
to attack them, exceeded 24,000; and thus the centi-c 
of the allies was completely insulated. 

According to the original plan, however, the allies 
had laid down, they advanced about eight o'clock, the 
Emperour Alexander having arrived at the head of the 
fourth column, commanded by General Kollowrath. 
Already, therefore, the action near Tellniz had began, 
and the left was in motion, when the centre formed, 
and broke into platoons from the left. These mea- 
sures had hardly been taken, when a massive column 
of French infantry, composed of the divisions of Van- 
damme and St. Hilaire, w^as discovered in a bottom in 
front of Pratzen. 

This movement of the French completely deceived 
the Russian Commander-in-chief, Kutusoflf: he was 
taken by surprise, and thinking himself attacked in 
the midst of his combinations, felt all the importance 
of maintaining the heiglits of Pratzen, against which 
the French were moving. KiitusofF gave immediate 
orders for occupying the heights, and strengthened 
himself with four Russian regiments of cavalry from 
the column of Prince John. 

In addition to Vandamme and St. Ililaire's corps, 
another body of French, part of Marshal Bernadotte's 



93 

corps, approached on the right of Pratzen, and threat- 
ened to pass through the interval, between the fourth 
column and the cavalry under Prince John; and the 
Russian infantry of the fourth column now marched 
to the right of Pratzen, and sent a reinforcement to 
the hUl in front of that village, which was occupied by 
the advanced guard; but the latter was compelled to 
abandon its position, being attacked by superiour 
numbers. 

The French continued to advance without firing a 
shot, although the Russians had opened their fire, un- 
til they came within a hundred paces of their enemy; 
a destructive fire was then commenced, after which 
they formed in several lines, and marched rapidly to- 
wards the height, resting their left on the church of 
the village, their right on the elevated points of tliQ 
heights. 

Having reached the heights, the French formed in 
an angular direction, for the purpose of opposing the 
rear of the third column, composed of the brigade un- 
der General Kaminskoy, and which had separated 
from the column, and shewed a front upon the heights, 
menacing the right flank of the corps under Soult. 

As the fate of the battle rested upon the possession 
of tlie heiglits, every effort was made by the allies to 
dislodge the French. During this desparate affair, 
Alexander, who had remained with the fourth co- 
lumn, directed his battalions to advance, and endea^' 
vour to take the French in flank, while Kollowrath 
received orders to check the enemy on the left, and the 
brigades under Kaminskoy were reinforced by twQ 
regiments of Russians who had been left in reserves 
13 



The allies, howerer, perceived, from the talent dis- 
played by the French generals in all their movements, 
that nothing but a desperate attack at the point of the 
bayonet could turn the fate of the day. The Aus- 
trian brigades, with that under Kaminskoy accord- 
ingly charged; but they were received by the French 
with the utmost steadiness and a well-supported fire, 
which made a dreadful carnage. Other charges were 
attempted, but the ardour of the attack soon evapora- 
ted, and the French attacking the allies in their turn, 
resistance became of no avail: the allies were routed 
in this and every other direction. Various stands 
were made in different quarters, and the greatest 
courage exhibited by the Austrian cavalry; but the 
whole were finally obliged to retreat, and the French 
at night took up the position occupied by the 
allied army on the preceding evening, whilst the lat- 
ter retired completely behind Austerlitz into the posi- 
tion of Holiegitz. 

On both sides the loss in this grand and important 
battle was very great: the allied army w^as diminished 
more than a fourth part by killed, wounded, and pris- 
oners; forty standards, and the greatest part of their 
artillery and baggage, were taken: ancl such was the 
number of wounded left upon the field, that they could 
not all be dressed until two days after the battle. 

The French army advanced on the following day, 
and Marshals Bernadotte and Soult, with the imperi- 
al guards and the grenadiers of the reserve, were post- 
ed on the V)ute towards Hungary. 

In the mean time, Prince John of Lichtenstein had 
been sent on the night of the battle to Buonaparte, on 
the part of the Emperour of Austria, to propose an 



95 

armistice; in consequence of which, a meeting took 
place between the Emperour and Buonaparte, at 
which it was agreed that the French army should re- 
main in possession of its conquests, viz. part of Mo- 
ravia and Hungary, all Upper and Lower Austria, 
the Tyrol, the State of Vienna, Carinthia, Styria, 
Carniola, the country of Goritz and Istria; and lastly, 
in Bohemia, the circle of Montahar, with the whole 
space to the eastward, from Tabor to Lintz. 

The above immense tract was to be held by the 
Fi'ench army until the conclusion of a dejfinitive peace, 
or the rupture of the negotiations; in the latter of 
which case, it was stipulated that hostilities should not 
recommence within fourteen days, and that the cessa- 
tion of the armistice should then be announced to the 
plenipotentiaries of both powers, at the head of their 
respective armies. 

It was further stipulated, that the Russian army 
should, within fifteen days, evacuate the Austrian 
States, Moravia and Hungary, and within a month 
Gallicia; and that the routes should be prescribed to 
the Russian army. 

The Emperour Alexander indignantly refused to 
become a party to these humiliating conditions, and 
instantly (the 6th of December) directed his army to 
commence its retreat. 

Prince John on the part of the Austrians, and M 
de Talleyrand on the part of France, were deputed to 
conclude the definitive treaty. 

The following is Buonaparte's proclamation after 
the battle of Austerlitz; 



96 



« Soldiers! 
"I am satisfied with you. In the battle of Auster- 
litz you have justified what I expected from your in- 
trepidity. You liave covered yourselves with eiernal 
glory. An army of 100,000 men, which was com- 
manded by the Emperours of Russia and Austria, has 
been, in less than four hours, either cut off, or dis- 
persed; what escaped your swords, have thrown them- 
selves into the lakes. Forty stand of colours, the 
standards of the Russian imperial guard, 120 pieces of 
cannon, twenty generals, and above 30,000 prisoners, 
are the fruits of this ever-memorable battle. That in- 
fantry, so celebrated, and so superiour to you in num- 
bers, has proved miable to resist your charge; and 
henceforth you have no rivals to fear. Thus, in less 
than two months, the third coalition is conquered and 
dissolved. Peace cannot be at a great distance; but 
as I promised to my people before crossing the Rhine, 
I will conclude it only upon terms consistent with my 
pledge, and which shall secure, not only the indemnifi- 
cation, but the reward of my allies. 

**Soldiers! When the French people placed the im- 
perial crown upon my head, I trusted to you to enable 
me to maintain it in that high splendour of glory, 
which alone could give it value in my estimation: but 
at that moment our enemies entertained the design to 
tarnish and degrade it; and the iron crown, which was 
gained by the blood of so many Frenchmen, they 
woidd have compelled me to place on tlie head of my 
bitterest foe — an extravagant and foolish proposal, 
which you have brought to nought on the anniversaiy 
of your Emj)erour's coronation. You have taught 
them, that it is easier for them to defy and to threaten, 
than to subdue us. 



©7 

"Soldiers! When every tiling necessary to the Se- 
curity, the happiness, and prosperity of our country 
has been achieved, I will return you my thanks in 
France. Then will you be the objects of my tender - 
est care. My people will receive you with rapture 
and joy. To say to me, <I was in the battle of Aus- 
terlitz,' will be enough to authorize the reply, *That 

is a brave man.' 

(Signed) "Napoleon. 

'f Head-quarters, JlusUrlit%, 

'^Lecember, 3, 1805." 



Buonaparte, ever anxious to connect his family with 
the other princes of Europe, by which he expected to 
render his own power more secure and lasting, on the 
5th of March, 1806, announced to the Senate, his in- 
tention of marrying the Princess Stephanie Beauhar- 
nois, niece of the Empress Josephine, to the hereditary 
Prince of Baden. On the 31st of the same month, he 
submitted to the Senate a variety of decrees for its ap- 
probation: by the first of which, he established various 
regulations for the education of the princes of his 
house; by the second he annexed the Venetian terri- 
tories to the kingdom of Italy; by the third, he confer- 
red the kingdom of Naples on his brotlier Joseph; by 
the fourth, he bestowed the duchies of Berg and 
Cleves, in full sovereignty, on his brother-in-law, Mu- 
rat; and the principality of Guastalla on his sister 
Paulina and her husband. Prince Borghese; by the 
fifth, he gave to Marshal Berthier the principality of 
Neufchatel; by the sixth, he united to Lucca, the coun- 



98 

tries of Massa, Carrara, and Garragnaiia; ^nd by the 
seventh, he created a number of duchies, with suitable 
revenues, in Italy, to be distributed among the civil 
and military officers who had distinguished themselves 
In his service, and to be held by them as property trans- 
missible, by inheritance, to their direct descendants in 
the male line. The erection of the duchy of Beneven- 
to into a fief of the French empire in favour of Talley- 
rand, with the title of Prince and Duke of Benevento; 
and the grant of the duchy of Ponte Corvo to Mar- 
shal Bernadotte, by a similar tenure, followed some 
months after the preceding establishment: viz. on the 
5th of June. 



99 



1806. 



It will be observed by the foregoing accounts, that 
the battle of Austerlitz was the first at which Mar- 
shal Bernadotte, now prince of Ponte Corvo, held any 
important command. The adulatory address, deliv- 
ered by General Bernadotte on the nomination of 
Buonaparte, Emperour of the French, acquired him 
from that period, the friendship and support of the 
latter. He was therefore entrusted, not only at the 
battle of Austerlitz, but also at subsequent operations, 
with a principal command of the French forces. 

The Prussian government having determined upon 
war with France, Marshal Bernadotte received the 
command of one of the centre divisions of Buona- 
parte's army.* 

The Duke of Brunswick was appointed generalis- 
simo of the Prussian forces, and early in October, 
1806, he established his head-quarters at Naumburg, 
where the jjrincipal magazines were collected, and ex- 
tended his army to the country bordering on the 
Saale, in Upper Saxony. On the 4th of that month 
the head quarters were moved forward to Erfurt, and 
on the 10th to Weimar. The whole force under the 
duke, consisting of Prussians and Saxons, amounted 
to 150,000. 

" To convey to the reader a correct view of the operations of Manhal Bemadotte^a 
corps, it will be necessary to present a brief sketch of the campaign of 13 06* 



100 

While this force remained in a state of inactivity, 
the French were collecting and concentrating their 
troops in the neighbourhood of Bamberg, where 
Buonaparte arrived on the 6th. On the 8th, the 
French were in motion to attack the Prussians. The 
position of the Prussian army in front was strong, 
but the Duke of Brunswick had neglected to protect 
his magazines at Hof, Zweckau, Wessenfels, and 
Naumburg, which were exposed to the attacks of the 
French, and which, when deprived of, would leave the 
Prussians without supplies. 

The French advanced in three divisions. The cen- 
tre commanded by the Grand Duke of Berg, the 
Prince of Ponte Corvo, (Marshal Bernadotte) and 
Marshal Davoust, marched from Bamberg to Cro- 
nach, and from thence to Saalburg and Schleitz. The 
right consisting of the corps under Marshals Ney and 
Soult, and of a division of Bavarians, set out from 
Amberg and Nuremberg, joined at Bayreuth, and 
from thence marched against Hof. The left compos- 
ed of the corps of Marshals Lannes and Augereau, 
advanced from Schweinefurth upon Coburg, Graffen- 
thal and Saalfeld. 

The left wing of the Prussians, which stretched to 
a great distance from their centre, was by the above 
movements of the French, exposed to the whole of 
the attack of that army, and sensible of their danger, 
the Prussians at Hof, who were at the extremity of 
the line, and in the greatest danger of being cut oflf^ 
fell back upon Sclileitz before the arrival of Soult, 
leaving some men and the whole of the magazines be- 
hind them. Soult followed by Ney continued to ad- 
vance, and on the 10th he arrived at Plaucn, in Upper 
Saxony. 



ioi 

The centre of the French army passed the Saale at 
Saalburg, and on the 9th, advanced to Schleitz, where 
General Tauenzien was posted with 10,000 Prussians^ 
a sharp action took place, in which the latter wei^ 
worsted, and on the 11th the French arrived at Gera? 
within half a day's march of the principal Prussian 
magazines, at Naumburg, 

The left of the French army on the 8th entered Co- 
bourg, on the 9th GrafFenthal, and on the 10th Lannes 
attacked aiad completely defeated at Saalfeld, the ad- 
vanced guard of Prince Hohenlohe's division, com- 
manded by Prince Lewis of Prussia, and who fell in 
the action. 

These successes gave to the French the entire pos- 
session of the Prussian magazines, and also placed 
them between the Prussian army and the cities of 
Dresden and Berlin. 

The French army now extended along the right 
bank of the Saale from Naumburg to Neustadt^ their 
first line was composed of the corps of Davoust, at 
Naumburg ; that of Lannes, at Jena ; and that of Au- 
gereau at Kahla. The Grand Duke of Berg, com- 
manded in the second line, between Zeitz and Leipzig^ 
.the Prince of Ponte Corvo, (Marshal Bernadotte) at 
Zeitz; Buonaparte and Soult at Jena; Marshal Ney 
at Neustadt. 

The Duke of Brunswick perceived that owing to 
his unskilful movements, nothing now remained but to 
risk a general engagement; he therefore collected the 
whole of his forces into one point, between Auerstadt- 

14 ll^aSiidti*. ■ 



Weimar, and Jena, and arrangements were madb for 
a battle, decisive of the fate of the campaign. 

The heights of the Saale separated the two armies, 
and they seemed to afford an insuperable barrier to 
the French, but here anotlier instance occurred of the 
incapacity of the generalissimo of the Prussian army, 
who satisfied with guarding the high road between 
Jena and Weimar, left unoccupied the most import- 
ant passes of the Saale; these passes the French secur- 
ed without loss of time, and transported cannon dur- 
ing the night of the 13th to defend them. 

On the 14th at day break, the Prussians saw them- 
selves attacked in their elevated position, which they 
had considered as an impregnable fortress: the whole 
of the French army was underarms, and the action 
commenced by the light troops of the centre opening a 
brisk fire, which drove the Prussians from their ad- 
vanced positions, enabled the French line to extend 
itself on the plain, and draw up in order of battle. 

Early in the morning, the left of the Prussian army, 
50,000 strong, was dispatched towards Naumburg, to 
take possession of the defiles of Koesen, but these Da- 
voust had already occupied, and although attacked 
eleven times successively, by the Prussians, he main- 
tained his post. 

The Prussian centi'e, 80,000 strong, was opposed to 
the French centre at Jena, but the Prussian right, 
12,000 strong, did not come up till their centre was 
broken and thrown into disorder, and their rear guard 
was at Meinungen, thirty miles distant from the field 
of battle. 



loa 

r 

The action began by some French battalions, tak* 
ing possession of a village from which the Prussians 
attempted to dislodge them. Whilst Marshal Lannes 
advanced to the support of these battalions, Soult 
moved to get possession of a wood upon his right, oc-^ 
cupied by the Prussians. And a body of Prussians 
having made a movement upon the French left, Auge- 
reau marched against them. The action became gen- 
eral in less than an hour, and was contested with great 
spirit on both sides; the French charged in the most 
regular and determined manner, and the armies con- 
tinued the engagement without any material success 
being acquired by either side, till Soult obtained pos- 
session of the wood, and pressed forward to support the 
centre. At the same time the French reserve advanc- 
ed to the front line, which being thus strengthened, 
the Prussians were most vigorously attacked, thrown 
into disorder, and forced to retire. 

The Prussians, however, rallied, renewed the con- 
test, and maintained it for another hour, when, by the 
advance of the second French reserve, under the Duke 
of Berg, they were again thrown into confusion and 
couipletely routed. 

In the mean time Davoust, after a combat of several 
hours, had forced the left of the Prussian army to fall 
back upon Weimar, where it arrived at the moment 
the broken corps which had reached that city, pursu- 
ed by the French, were attempting to retreat in the di- 
rection of Naumburg. The confusion was thus mani- 
foldly increased, and a precipitate flight ensued. 

According to the French accounts, more than 20,000 
JPrussians were killed and wounded in the battle of 



104. 

Jena and from 30 to 40,000 taken prisoners. The 
Dfike of Brunswick and Lieutenant General Schmet- 
taw were mortally w^ounded: above twenty generals 
and lieutenant generals made prisoners, and 300 pie- 
ces of cannon and sixty standards taken, 

Tlie loss of the French is stated in their official re- 
ports/at 1000 killed and 3000 wounded; none of their 
officers above the rank of brigadier-general were 
either killed or wounded. 

Marshal Mollendorff and the Prince of Orange, Ful- 
da, made good their retreat with a considerable Prus- 
sian corps to Erfurt. On the following day, the Duke 
of Berg invested that place, and the Prussians surren- 
dered by capitulation. General Kalkreuth with anoth- 
er division of the Prussian troops, attempted to es- 
cape in a body over the Hertz mountains; he was over- 
take*' at the village of Greusen, and defeated with loss. 

The flight of the Prussians was principally directed 
to Magdeburg, and here Prince Hohenlolic having ar- 
rived, he, although wounded, collected from the fugi- 
tives, a considerable army. 

Prince Eugene of "Wirtemberg, who was advancing 
from Custrin, with the Prussian reserve, instead of 
falling back when he received intelligence of the routo 
of the Prussians at Jena, continued his mai"ch to Halle, 
where, on the 17th, the Prince of Ponte Corvo, (Mar- 
shal Bernadotte) warmly attacked, and after a sharp 
action, defeated him. Marshal Bernadotte, in this 
action, which destroyed tiie last entire corps of the 
Prussian army, took 5000 prisoners, and thirty-five 
pieces of cannon. 



i05 

In their retreat, the Prussians burned the bridge at 
Dessau over the Elbe; but which Marshal Berna- 
dotte quickly re-established. The Prussians also at- 
tempted to destroy the bridge at Wittenberg, but this 
was likewise prevented by the timely arrival of Mar- 
shal Bernadotte, with his corps in pursuit of the re- 
treating enemy. 

On the 2*th Buonaparte arrived at Potsdam, on the 
25th, Marshal Davoust's corps entered Berlin; on the 
following day, Augereau*s corps; and on the 27th, 
Buonaparte made his public entry. 

In the mean time Prince Hohenlohe with the Prus- 
sians collected at Magdeburg, amounting to 40,000 
men, made an unsuccessful attempt to gain the banks 
of the Oder, After sending forward detachments of 
cavalry, to destroy the bridges, over which the French 
would have to pass, to interrupt his march, the prince 
set out for Stettin. On reaching Zehdenick on the He- 
vel, the advanced guard of his army, 6000 cavalry, was 
attacked by the Duke of Berg, with a body of light 
cavalry and dragoons, and the Prussians were de- 
feated with loss. The Duke having no infantry to 
support his movements, after this affair pushed for- 
ward to Templin, which lay in the line of the Prince 
of Hohenlohe's march, in order to stop his progress 
until their infanti*y should come up. 

The Prince, however, made a detour through Furs- 
tenberg, and thus avoiding Templin, he reached Boit- 
zenberg without fighting. Near the latter place, an 
«,ction was engaged, in which the Prussians were again 
unsuccessful. It became now necessary to effect a 
second detour by Schoenermark, in order to reach 



106 

Prentzlau; but the Prussians had no sooner I'cached 
the heights of the latter place, than they were at- 
tacked and forced to a precipitate retreat. The dis- 
tresses of this gallant Prince's corps were now^ so 
great, the men being without bread and almost with^ 
out ammunition, and the horses without forage, he 
was forced on the 28th, to accept the terms of capitu- 
lation offered to him, and surrender the whole force 
under his command, amounting to 17,000 men; and on 
the following day, 6000 men belonging to his army, 
which had pushed forward by another route to Passe- 
w alk, was also forced to surrender. 

General Blucher, (celebrated by his grand and skil- 
ful operations during the present eventful continental 
campaign,) at this time commanded the rear, 10,500 
strong, of Prince Hohenlohe's army: he had reached 
Boitzenberg, and on the morning of the 29th, whilst 
preparing to set out for Prenzlau, intelligence arrived 
of the surrender of the main body. General Blucher 
resolved instantly to change his route, and direct his 
course towards Strelitz, in the hope of meeting with a 
corps, commanded by the Duke of Weimar, and on 
the 30th he effected a junction, near that place. The 
Duke's corps, 10,000 strong, which after passing the 
Elbe at Havelberg, had reached Strelitz, by Rhins- 
berg, and after falling in with a thii'd corjw, under the 
Duke of Brunswick Oels. Scarcely was this junc- 
tion effected, when General Blucher received intelli- 
gence that Marshal Soult had also crossed the Elbe, 
and was between him and that river. 

In consequence of this, General Blucher, with the 
• three corps under his command, resolved on attempt- 
ing to pass the Elbe at Lauenburgj and on the 3d of 



107 

November, he reached the lake of Schwerin, after se^ 
veral sharp actions, and being constantly harassed by 
the French. 

The Prince of Ponte Corvo, (Marshal Bernadotte) 
pressed upon the Duke's rear: Soult on his left inter- 
cepted his communication with the Elbe, and prevent- 
ed his crossing at Lauenberg; and the Duke of Berg 
advancing on his right, along the skirts of Swedish 
Pomerania prevented him from gaining the walls of 
Stralsund. In this critical situation. General Blucher 
had no other alternative than to throw himself into 
Lubeck, the gates of which were immediately after- 
wards forced, and an engagement ensued in the 
squares and streets.* After experiencing a severe 
loss. General Blucher was again forced to retreat, 
and on reaching the frontiers of Danish Holstein, he 
was obliged to surrender. 

The principle garrisons of the Prussian fortified 
places, although many of them were supplied with 
the means of defence, after this event opened their 
gates to the French; Spandau, Stettin, Custrin, Mag- 
deburg, and Hameln surrendered by capitulation. 

In the meanwhile Louis Buonaparte with an incon- 
siderable army, overran the Prussian provinces of 
Westphalia, and penetrated into the electorate of Han- 
over. General Dendaels took possession of Emden 

• Buonaparte's orderof the day after the affair at Lubeck. 

Berlin, 9th Novemter, 1806. 
« llie Emperour signifies his satisfaction to the Grand Duke of Berg, to the Prince 
tonte Corvo (Marshal Bernadotte) to Marshal Soult, and to the uoops under their com- 
mand, at their brilliant conduct at Lubeck, and foi- the activity they evinced in jpw- 
suing the enemy." 



108 

and East Friezeland; and the Prussian fortresses in 
Germany to the west of the Oder, fell into the hands 
of the French. 

The Elector of Hesse was expelled from his domin- 
ions by Marshal Mortier: the Duke of Mecklenburg 
Schwerin was exposed to a similar fate, and also the 
Duke of Brunswick. On the 19th of November, 
Mortier entered Hamburg, and on the following day, 
all English produce and manufactures in that city, 
were sequestrated. 

On the 22d of October, a plenipotentiary, Lucche- 
sina, from the King of Prussia arrived at the French 
head-quarters, to negotiate peace. After some delay, 
Buonaparte declared that he would never quit Berlin 
nor evacuate Poland, till Moldavia and Wallachia 
were yielded by the Prussians in complete sovereignty 
to the Porte, and till a general peace was concluded 
on the basis of the restitution of all the Spanish, 
French, and Dutch colonies, and possessions taken by 
Great Britain during the war. 

This declaration put an end to all expectations of 
peace. An armistice was, however, proposed by 
Buonaparte and consented to by the Prussian plenipo- 
tentiary; but its terms were so disadvantageous to the 
Prussian monarch, that he refused to ratify the same. 

Early in November two French corps crossed the 
Oder: the one under Davoust on the 10th entered Po- 
scn; the other, under Jerome Buonaparte, undertook 
the conquest of Silesia; and after a formal resistance, 
Great Glogaw and Breslau surrendered to his arms. 



109 

Some Russian corps, under General Benningseii 
were now advancing to assist the Prussians, and leav- 
ing reached Warsaw, a detachment was sent forward 
to Lowiez to defend the passage of the Bzura; but on 
the 27th this detachment was attacked and driven 
back. The Russian commander, in the mean time, re- 
ceived intelligence of the strength ofthe enemy marching 
against him^ in consequence of which he abandoned 
Warsaw, repassed the Vistula, and continued his re- 
treat beyond theNarew. On the 28th the French enter- 
ed Warsaw; they immediately re-established the bridge 
over the Vistula, which the Russians had destroyed in 
their retreat, and Ney having also established abridge 
at Thorn, and Augereau at Zakroczym, the advance 
of the French was facilitated, and its retreat, if neces^' 
sary secured, 

Benningsen having formed a junction with the 
second division ofthe Russian army, under Buxhoev- 
den, behind the Narew, and the Commander-in-chief. 
Kamenskoy, having arrived with further reinforce- 
ments, the Russians again advanced and fixing their 
head-quarters at Pultusk, threatened to drive the 
French over the Vistula. 

In the niglit, however, a small French detachment 
having passed over the Narew, entrenched itself so 
strongly that the Russians could not dislodge it, and a 
fortified bridge having been constructed, the whole 
French army moved forward to bring the united ar- 
mies to a general engagement, 

Buonaparte left Berlin on the 25th of November^ 
remained at Posen till the 16th of December; reached 
15 



110 

Warsaw on the 18th: on the 23d was at the head of his 
army and crossed the Narew. 

The right of the French army, consisting of the 
divisions of Lannes, Davoust, and the Grand Duke of 
Berg, and commanded hy Buonaparte in person, hav- 
ing crossed the Narew, was opposed to tlie left flank 
of the Russians. To the left of this division was the 
corps of Augereau, at Zakroczym on the Vistula, and 
at a still greater distance, the corps of Soult, which. 
|iad crossed at Polock. 

The left of the French, consisting of the divisions 
of the Prince of Ponte Corvo, (Marshal Bernadotte) 
Key, and Bessieres, after having advanced from 
Thorn to Golub, and from thence to Sierpsk, was di- 
rected to attack General Lestocq, commanding a hody 
of Prussiai^s, and by a rapid movement to cut off his 
communication with the Russians. Two actions took 
place, on the 23d and 26th of December, in which the 
French were successful. 

On the night of the 23d the fOperations of the 
French right began, by an att^k on the villu^'e of 
Czarnowo on the Narew, where the Russians were 
in great strength. They were, however, dislodged, 
and their batteries carried. On the 24th Kamenskoy 
was driven from his entrenchments at Nasielk; and 
the same day Augereau passed the Wkra at Kurs- 
comb, and defeated 15,000 men who disputed the pasr 
sage of that river. 

General Kamenskoy, in consequence of his position 
behind the Wkra being forced, resolved that the Rus- 
sian army should retire behind the Nicmen, and gaA e 



Ill 

directions to that effect to Biixhoevden and Benning- 
sen. TIte latter considering himself authorized to use 
his own discretion, preferred to give battle at Pultusk. 
On the 26th he was attacked at the latter place, an4 
General Buxhoevden at Golomyn. Both made an ob- 
stinate resistance, but both were obliged to retreat,* 
and after this action the Frencli went into cantonments 
on the banks of the river Orzyk, and Buonaparte re- 
turned to "Warsaw. 



* General Benningsen addressed an account of tliis battle to the Einperour, in 
which he claims the victory.— Buonaparte also claimed the victor}-, and stated the loss 
of the Russians at 12,000, in killed, wounded, and prisoners, ^A'hilst that of the French 
army did not exceed 2800. It is observed by a political wniter, "that the confidence 
with which General Benniiigsen's accounts were circulated, and the minute detail 
of circumstances with which they were accompanied, imposed for a timeou the most 
sceptical and desponding," Ike— Vide Annual Register, ' 806. 

Sir Robert Wilson, in his Sketch of the Campaigns of 1806 and 1807, states the loss of 
the Russians to have been less than SOOO, and tliat tlie French, at the most moderate 
computation, had 8000 killed and wounded, and that the French were severely beaten.— 
He observes also, that if the other generals had co-operated, "the action at Pultusk 
might have decided the campaign; for the entire annihilation of the enemy opposed 
would have been then certain." 

1 have given these opposite statements that the reader may form his own judgment, 
if it is possible to have one, when accounts are so inuoh at variance* That the Rus- 
sians, however, were obliged to retreat is admitted on both sides. J, P. 



112 



1807. 



After the battle of Pultusk the chief command of 
the Russian army w as entrusted to General Bcnning- 
sen, wiio had formed a junction with General Bux- 
hoevden. Their force was 70,000 strong, with 500 
cannon, 

Buonaparte perceiving that the intention of the 
Russians was to give him no rest in his winter-quai*- 
ters, determined to become the assailant. 

The Prince of Ponte Corvo's (Marshal Bernadotte) 
corps was stationed at Elbing, where there were im- 
mense magazines filled with all manner of stores and 
provisions, and it occupied tlie country around on the 
shores of the Baltic. 

Marshal Bernadotte's corps, which was to be sup- 
ported by that under Ney, posted on the right banks 
of the Alia, was ordered to surprise Koningsberg, with 
its valuable magazines; which was attempted. But 
by the rapid advance of the Russians under Counts 
Pahlen and Galitzin, Marshal Bernadotte and Ney 
were both discomfitted in the outset of their enter- 
prize. 

On the 21th of January, Ney was obliged to abandon 
bis posts on the Alia, and to retire by Allenstein be- 
hind the Dribentz, where he joined the corps under 
Miirat. 



113 

Marshal Bernadotte now retired from Elbing by 
Preuss Holland to Mohringen, where he established 
his head-quarters, pushing his out-posts to the distance 
of a league from the town, on the road to Liebstadt. 

General Benningsen, on learning these movements., 
determined to march against Marshal Bernadotte.^- 
On the 24th he reached Arensdorf, and on the 25tli 
Leibstadt,' but on the same day the Russian General 
Markow, with a division of the corps under the com- 
mand of the Counts Pahlen and Galitzen, commenced 
upon the village of Georgeuthal, ten English miles in 
front of Mohringen, on a very formidable position oc- 
cupied by the whole corps of the French, and finally 
supported by General Dupont's division. 

After a very sharp action, in which the eagle of the 
9th French regiment of infantry was taken, the Rus- 
sians were repulsed, but being afterwards reinforced 
by a division of cavalry under General D'Aurep, the 
battle was renewed, the French driven back, and the 
Russians recovered the original ground. 

During the action. Prince Michael Dolgorucky, 
with his regiment of dragoons, went round to the rear 
of the French, made his way to head-quarters without 
being perceived, and carried off Marshal Bernadotte's 
equipage,* his plate, and some ladies. 

• "In General Bernadotte's baggage, the money levied on the town of Elbing for his 
Own private use, 10,000 ducats, exclusive of 2,500 for his sta^ was recovered; and there 
were found to a great amount, various pieces of plate, candlesticks, &c. bearing the 
arms of almost all the states of Germany. The Marshal's servant was so ashamed of 
this plunder, that he would not claim it when purposely desired to point out his mas- 
ter's property; but as the articles were taken in the Marshal's own quarter, and in his 
trunks, and were in such quantity, they must have been there with his knowledge."— 
Vide Sir Robert WUsori^s Sketch of the Campaigns in Poland, 

General Sarazin,in Ids "Philosopher," makes the following observation on this cir- 
cumstance;— 

"It was published in a very estimable wwk, that there were found among hit effects, 



Buonaparte, in his fifty-fifth bulletin, dated War- 
saw, January 29, 1807, gives the following account of 
the battle of Mohringcn; 

"The details of the battle of Mohriiigen arc as fol- 
lows:— The Marshal, Prince of Ponte Corvo (Berna- 
dotte) arrived at Mohringen, witli the division of 
Drouet on tlie 25th, at eleven in the horning, at the 
very moment when the general of brigade Pactod was 
attacked by the enemy. The Marshal, Prince of 
Ponte Coi'vo, ordered an immediate attack of the vil- 
lage of Pfarresfeldeben, by a battalion of the 9th of 
light infantry. This village was defended by three 
Russian b^attalions which were supported by three 
others. The Prince of Ponte Corvo caused also two 
other battalions to march to supi)ort that of the 9th. 
The action was very sharp; the eagle of the 9th regi- 
ment of light infantry was taken by the enemy; but' 

seveialpiecesof plate, with the arras of the German Princes; and, it was even said, 
thathis servant was so ashamed of this pilUige, that he dared not say it was the pro- 
perty of the General. The particulars of the anecdote suffice to prove its inconsis. 
tency. Where is the servant who would blush to claim what his master was not 
ashamed of preserving for his own use? At this period Bernadone had a considerable 
fortune, and Buonaparte anticipated all his desires in money. How could he have 
decided for some silver forks and candlesticks, to risk a rupture with Buonaparte, 
who, from the beginning of the campaign in lS05,had,in the most peremplory man-' 
net, prohibited any individual in the army, from the maishal to the drummer, to raise' 
the smallest contribution? Besides. Beri.adotte has always been so zealous in support- 
ing the interests of tlie inhabitauts, that there is not tlie least prob;»bilit) thai these 
things, pretended to have been his, were so in reality: it is far more prob.nbk that the 
Cossacks under pretence of taking Hernadotte's baggage, had seized the plate l)eIong>- 
ing to the castle in which iliis general was quartered. The unequivocal piwfs of de- 
licacy aid probity which Genen-U Bernadotte has given throughout tlie whole of his 
military career, leave no doubt of his entire innocence in this respect. As to what he 
received from the Comniander-iii-chiel, under tlie title of encouragemem, we will call 
to mind what Marshal ViUars wrote to Louis the Fourteenth, who had remarked to 
him. that his exactions were complained of: 'The first jiait, si.v." said the conquerour 
of Cenain, is for your majesty's treiisury, and serves to pay the troops ; rlie second is to 
assist my officers who are in want, and the tKndh to fatten 7>iy vcux." It was the 
name of a very fine estate belonging to the Mai shal; the pronunciation of which was 
the same as veau, (calf.) which made the pun upon tlie woi-ds. llie august monarch', 
who knew that war nttiit be mnintaineil bij war, laughed Iitartily at bis general's pUn, 
and approved of it by saying no more on the subject." 



115 

m the aspect of the affront with which this brave re- 
giment was on the point of being covered for ever, and 
from which, neither victory, nor the glory acquired in 
an hundred combats, would have purified it, the sol- 
diers, animated with an inconsiderable ardour, preci- 
pitated themselves on the enemy, whom they routed, 
and recovered their eagle. In the meanwhile the 
French line, cpm^oseil of the 8th of the line, of the 
37th of light infantry, and of the gi-th, were formed, 
and attacked the Russian line, which had taken its 
fjositibn upon a irising ground. The fire of the mus- 
ketry was veiy brisk, and at point blank distance. At 
this moment General Dupont appeared on the road, 
with the 32d and 96th regiments. He turned the right 
Wing of the enemy. A battalion of the 32d rushed 
upon the enemy with its usual impetuosity, put them 
to flight, killing several of them. The only prisoners 
they made were those who were in the houses. The 
Russians were pursued for two leagues, and were it 
not for the coming on of night, the pursuit would 
have been continued. Counts Pa]ilen and Galitzen 
commanded the Russians. They left 1200 dead on 
the field of battle, and lost 300 prisoners and several 
howitzers. Laplanche, general of brigade, distin- 
guished himself. The 19th dragoons made a fine 
charge against the Russian infantry. It is not only 
the good conduct of the soldiers, and the talents of 
the general, which are most wortliy of remark, but 
the expedition with which the troops broke up from 
their cantonments, and performed a march which 
would be reckoned extraordinary for any other troops, 
without a man being missing in the field of battle. It 
is th]s which eminently distinguishes soldiers who have 
no other impulse but that of honour." 



115 

■ Notwithstanding the hiilletin of the French chief, 
there is not a doiiht that the French received a check 
at the hattle of Mohringen; and the design of surpris- 
ing Koningsberg by a combined movement of the 
Marshals Bernadotte and Ney was frustrated. The 
retreat of the two latter officers enabled Benriingsen 
to concentrate his forces in the town and environs of 
Mohringen, whilst the right of his army rested on the 
Vistula, between Elbing and Culm. 

On the 29th and 30th Buonaparte broke up his can- 
tonments. He perceived the corps under General Von 
J^ssen, that covered the left flank of the Russian army, 
was posted at too great a distance from its main body 
to answer the purpose for which it was intended^ and 
therefore directed General Savary's corps to watch his 
movements, whilst another corps under Le Febre, at 
Thorn, kept in check the allies at Culm and Marien- 
werder, thus to secure for Buonaparte a safe retreat 
across the Vistula, in case of a failure in his attempt 
on the main body of the Russian army. 

The sanguinary "battle of Eylau* foUow^ed, the suc- 
cess of which was claimed by both sides. The French, 
however, remained seven or eight days on the field of 
battle, and buried the Russian dead. 

After the battle of Eyiau the French army was con- 
centrated in cantonments behind, that is, to the west- 



• A particular narration of this battle is rendered unnecessary, and would be fo 
reign to these memoirs, the corps under Marsha) Bernadotte not having been engaged 
tlierein. The Marshal was stationed at Strasburg. Sir Robert Wilson, in his Sketches, 
states tliat "Marshal Bernadotte was expected, but tliat he did not arrive till two day* 
afterwards." 



ward of the Passarge.* The t*rince of TPonte Corvo, 
(Marshal Beriladotte) with his corps, lay at I*russiaii 
Holland, and Braunsberg; Marshal Soult at Leibstadt 
and Mohringen; Ney at Gutstadt; Davoust at AUen- 
stien, Hohenstien, and Deppenj ftild Le Febvre before 
Dantzig. 

On the 26th of iFebriiary a iRussiah dietachment 
marched against Braunsberg, the most advanced of 
the French cantonments. The Prince of Ponte Corvo 
immediately detached General Dupont to attack the 
enemy. The Russians were repulsed with great loss, 
and driven across the Passarge. 

The siege of* Dantzig \Vd,S the point to which uni- 
Viersal attentidii was next directed. On the night be- 
tween the 2d' aiid od April trenches were opened be- 
fore it, aiiii although its relief was attempted by a 
Inaritime expedition, it capitulated on the 19th of 
May, 

On the Sth of June the grand French army was at- 
tacked by the allies at difFerent points of its line. Oii 
the right of the allies and left of the French, twelve 
Russian and Prussian regiments, forming two divi- 
sions, attacked the tete du pont of Spanden on the 
Passarge, which was defended by a regiment of light 
infantry strongly covered by entrenchments and re- 
doliTSti. They were repulsed seven times, and as of- 
ten renewed the attack. But immediately after the 
last assault they were charged by a regiment of dra- 
goons, that had come up to the assistance of the regi- 



* A small river which, passing by the town of Braunsberg, discharges itself, a 
little helow that place, into the Frisch-haaf. 

16 



118 

ment of infantry, and forced to abandon the field of 
battle with a great loss in killed and wounded. 

Whilst inspecting the batteries at the head of the 
bridge of Spanden, Marshal Bernadotte received a 
wound, which, though slight, obliged him to quit the 
army for the remainder of the campaign, and the com- 
mand of his corps was transferred to Victor. 



When Buonaparte was preparing the way for the 
usurpation of Spain, the first step towards the accom- 
plishment of his design was to remove its best troops, 
and accordingly in conformity to treaty, 16,000 men, 
under the Marquis de Romana, were marched to Den- 
mark. . Marshal Bernadotte was at the same time sent 
with his troops to the latter kingdom. 

No sooner, however, did Spain rise in arms against 
Buonaparte, than the British government directed its 
attention to those Spanish troops who were now sta- 
tioned in the Danish islands. The British govern- 
ment were fulJy acquainted with the patriotic spirit of 
those troops. An oath of allegiance to Joseph Buona- 
parte liad been proposed to them, but, far as they 
were from Spain, with no probability scarcely of the 
hope of returning to it — ignorant of the spirit which 
had manifested itself there, and surrounded by French 
and Danish troops, who were equally hostile to the 
Spanish patriots, they planted their colours, formed a 
circle round them, and then swore on their knees to be 
faithful to their countrv. 



^ii9 

The task of bringing off these patriots was entrust- 
ed to Admiral Keats: the main body of these troops 
were with the Commander-in-chief upon the island of 
Funenj some were in Jutland, some in Zealand, and a 
smaller body in Langland. The admiral proposed 
that those in Funcn should secure themselves in a pen- 
insida on the north side of the island, from which, if 
necess^ary, they might be removed to the small island 
of Romsol. The Danish gun-boats could be rendered 
inactive, if the Spanish General had it in his power, and 
should think it proper, to seize on the town and port 
of Nyborg; but this measure the admiral conceived 
might endanger the safety of the troops in Zealand 
and Jutland, by inducing the Danes to act hostilely 
when they might otherwise be disposed to permit the 
quiet removal of the Spaniards. Little hope was in- 
dulged that any negotiation for their peaceable depar- 
ture would be successful; but immediately after the 
movements should have commenced, a declaration of 
the peaceable and unoffending object in view, might 
then be advantageous. The troops in Zealand, it was 
proposed, should attempt to force their way to the 
peninsula near Corsoer, where it seemed likely that 
they might be able to defend the isthmus till they 
could be removed to the neighbouring island of Sproe. 
Those at Frederisca, in Jutland, were to seize vessels 
and endeavour to unite with their countrymen at 
Funen; but, if the troops in Langland were strong 
enough to feel themselves in safety, it was deemed 
better to send all the others there, from whence they 
might be transported at leisure. 

The suspicions of the French officers and the Da- 
nish government were, however, awakened, and a 
premature execution of the plan becoming necessary, 



120 

Romanatook posesssion of Nyborg; whereupon the Bri- 
tish admiral dispatched a letter to the governour, in- 
forming him, that notwithstanding the state of war 
between England and Denmark, it was his wish to ab- 
stain from every hostile act, provided the embarkation 
of the Spaniards was not opposed. While this was 
going on he must necessarily co-operate with those 
troops^ and consequently, often communicate with the 
town of Nyborg; but the strictest orders had been 
given to all, to observe the utmost civility towards the 
inhabitants. If, however, the Spaniards were opposed, 
he must take measures that might occasion the de- 
struction of the town. The Danish garrison had 
yielded to circumstances; but an armed brig and cut- 
ter which were moored across the harbour, rejected 
all the pacific offers. Such small boats as could be 
collected were sent against them, and they were taken. 
The admiral now addressed a second letter to the Go- 
vernour, acquainting him that as his entrance into the 
harbour had been opposed, he Avas not bound to re- 
spect the property of the inhabitants. The Spanish 
General had occasion for some of the small craft in 
the port| unless the masters and crews w^ould assist in 
navigating them, it might not be in his power to secure 
them from injury; if they would, he pledged himself, 
after the short service for which they were required 
was ended, not only to secure them from injury by 
every means in his power, but also to grant them 
passports to return in safety. The artillery, baggage, 
stores, &c. were accordingly embarked with the 
troops, and landed upon Langland; and a convention 
was made between Romana and the Governour of that 
island, in which the latter agreed to supply the Span- 
iards with provisions, they on tlicir part abstaining from 
hostilities. Above a thousand troops from Jutland 



m 

effected their escape in the manner proposed, and 
jjoined their countrymen while at sea. Another thou- 
sand had got to Langland. One regiment in Jutland 
"was too distant and top unfavourably situated to 
escape, and two in Zealand, after having fired on the 
French general who commanded them, were over- 
powered and disarmed.* 

Q,n the Spaniards thus succeeding, through the 
efforts of the English, in embarking for Spain, Buo- 
naparte accused Marshal Bernadotte of great negli- 
gence. He, however, shortly after readily availed 
himself of the military talents of Marshal Bernadotte, 
\jty employing him in the campaign of 180&. 



When the Archduke Charles, on the 6th of April, 
i.809, declared, on the part of Austria, war against 
France, in the form of a proclamation, glowing with 
sentiments the most fitted to rouse indignation against 
the French, and awaken all their love for their own 
country, the Prince of Ponte Corvo, Marshal Berna- 
dotte, was appointed to command the Saxon army. 

Having proceeded from Dresden, through Nurem- 
berg, for Ratisbon, he so ably manoeuvred, as to com-> 
pletely deceive General Bellegarde. The latter officer 
had under his command a very considerable corps, and 
which was intended to co-t)perate with the Archduke's 



' The remnants of Romana's army, who had it not in their power to escape with 
their brave countrymen, were confined tto garrison duty, aiid afterwards sent to 
Flushing, as being out of the way. 



12S 

army; but, from the dispositions of Marshal Berna- 
dotte with his light troops, by which he threatened an 
invasion of Bohemia, General Bellegarde was com- 
pletely kept in check, and obliged, with his corps, to 
remain in a state ready to defend the frontiers of that 
kingdom. 

At the attack on Wagram,* in the night between the 
5th and 6th of July, a great confusion took place in 
the division under the orders of Marshal Bernadotte: 
for a considerable time his columns fired upon each 
other by mistake, and occasioned much slaughter; and 
Buonaparte severely censured the subject of this me- 
moir for his conduct on that occasion; in consequence 
of which, he retired to France, under the pretext of 
re-establishing his liealth. 

The next and 1 ast military employ given to the 
Prince of Ponte Corvo by the Ruler of the French na- 
tion, was that of commanding the French army at Ant- 
werp after the landing of the British at Walcheren; 
but in consequence of a proclamation published by the 

• The most correct account of the battle of Wagram is given in the Royal Military 
Panorama, Vol. I. p. 413. It is drawn up by an eye-witness, and edited by an Austrian 
staff officer. This important paper should be read by all military men'. The battle 
of Wagram, in its result, had a powerful influence on the continental pobcy of Eu- 
rope, and a nai-rative of the real circumstances attending that great event, and what^ 
pait of them is to be ascribed to genius, talent, and profound military calculation, or 
vhat part in consequence of weakness and mere accident, must be of general interest 
to the British army. It is only by knowing the real circumstances attending great 
events, that we can form an accurate opinion in regard to the conduct of those con- 
cerned in them, or deduce therefrom any practical results, which may prove of general 
benefit to mankind. Tlie editor of this narrative appears not only to have possessed 
sufficient ability, but a desire to be a just and accurate observer of the events to which 
he was an eye-witness. Blinded neitlier by hatred nor pr ejudice, he lias been able to 
see events which might otherwise have escaped his notice. The clearness of his yiev/s, 
and the air of iinpaniaUty which pervades the whole narrative, will afford sufficient 
proof to those who are competent judges, that he was well qualified for the office Ifi 
has undertaken. 



133 

Marshal on the departure of the Earl of Chatham for 
this country, wherein he claimed to himself great merit 
for the manner in which he had disposed the forces 
entrusted to his orders; and at the same time obliquely 
hinted, that Buonaparte had overlooked many points 
to which he should have most particularly attended, 
in regard to the defence of the banks of the Scheldt, 
Marshal Bernadotte was recalled, and the command 
of the Antwerp army given to Marshal Bessieres. 



After the murder of Charles Augustus Augusten- 
burg, Crown Prince of Sweden,* the States of Swe^ 
den assembled at Orebro, for the purpose of electing 
a successor to the King on the throne. 

Four candidates offered themselves for this high 
honour — the eldest son of Gustavus IV.; the Prince 
of Holstein, eldest brother of the Prince of Augusten- 
burg; the King of Denmark; and the Prince of Ponte 
Corvo, Marshal Bernadotte, 

To conciliate the favour of the Swedes, the King of 
Denmark promised, in case of his becoming the suc- 
cessful candidate, to quit Copenhagen, and reside at 
Stockholm. 

Marshal Bernadotte was regarded as the candidate 
favoured by Buonaparte,f who addressed a letter to 

• June 20, 1810. 

t Buonaparte, however, insteafl of favouring Marshal Bernadotte, secretly encoui-a- 
Efed the Kji^ of Denmark to solicit the succession; although the Ruler of Francemusi 



y 



124 

the King of Sweden, condoling the Swedes for the loss 
which they had sustained, and declaring that nothing 
could be more grateful to him, than to see them once 
again in their former happy and flourishing state. 
Buonaparte observed, that it was his wish, as tlie Swe- 
dish people had regained their freedom and indepen- 
dence under so magnanimous a prince as Charles XIII. 
they might retain that which alone could restorfe them 
to their former rank in history, by choosing a man of 
like sentiments and fortitude: he, however, would not 
interfere in the election, especially as the enlightened 
members of the Diet must be the best judges. 

On the 18th of August, with the advice of his coun- 
cil, the King of Sweden proposed to the State;?, Mar- 
shal Bernadotte as a successor to the croWn. His Ma- 
jesty remarked, "He perceived with pleasure that the 
voice of his people, equally aware of the necessity 
speedily to choose a successor to the Sweedish throne, 
loudly and unanimously declared in favour of the 
Prince of Ponte Corvo. 

"Brilliant exploits have illustrated his name-Ss-ji 
warrior, at the same time that eminent talents mark 
him one of the most skilful statesmen of our age. 
Universally admired for the probity of his character, 
and the mildness of his temper, he found opportunities, 
even in the midst of the misfortunes of war, to shew 
his attachment to the Swedish nation, by the kind and 
friendly manner, in which he treated the Swedish offi- 
cers and soldiers whom the chance of war subjected to 
his power. All these circumstances and considera- 

have been sensible that Die Swedes would be disgusted with tlie very idea of being 
governed by a Dane, and consequnnlly that the king could not succeed. Bernadotte | 
therefore wai under no tie to Buonaparte, who was no otbcrwisu consulted by the 
Swedish covtmment than to obtain his consent. 



125 

tions could not but fix his majesty's attention, and de- 
termine his resolution, when the question was, to pro- 
pose a suGcessour to the Swedish throne. Yet his majes- 
ty has not failed to take on this important question the 
sense of the States of the empire; and at the secret 
committee of the council of state, a large majority of 
the former, and the unanimous opinions of the latter, 
perfectly coincided with his sentiments on this point. 

*'His majesty thinks, that by confiding the future 
destinies of Sweden to the Prince of Ponte Corvo, his 
well earned military fame, while on the one hand it se- 
cures the independence of the State, will on the other 
hand render it superfluous for him to engage in fresh 
wars; that his strong mind, tutored by long expe- 
rience, will maintain national tranquility and order, 
and secure to our faithful subjects a long and undis- 
turbed enjoyment of the blessings of peace; and lastly, 
that his son will remove in future times that uncer- 
tainty of succession to the throne, which some late la- 
mentable events have rendered still more important to 
this country. From all these considerations, his ma- 
jesty feels obliged to propose to the assembled States 
of the empire his Serene Highness Jean Baptiste Julien 
Bernadotte, Prince of Ponte Corvo, as Crown Prince 
of Sweden, and his majesty's successour to the throne 
of Sweden." 

The reply of the States-general of Sweden was, 
<'That judging it their duty to prevent and avert the 
danger to the independence and tranquility of the 
kingdom, as well as to the rights and privileges of the 
inhabitants, which might result from a vacancy of the 
throne, and a consequent election; exercising more- 
over the power renewed to them by tlie constitution of 
17 



i2Q 

the last year, of electing, in such case, a new dynasty, 
and considering that the high and mighty Piince and 
Lord, Jean Baptiste Julien Bemadotte, Prince of 
Ponte Corvo, was endowed with virtues and qualities, 
which gave them a well-founded hope of enjoying, un- 
der bis reign, the fruits of a legal, energetic, and be- 
neficent goverament, voluntarily elected him by a free 
and unanimous suffrage for themselves and their de- 
scendants; under condition, however, that before his 
arrival on the Swedish territory, he should embrace 
the evangelical Lutheran religion, and sign the condi- 
tions which they should draw up." 

j9rt of Election of the Pnnce of Ponte CorvOf Marshal 
Bernadottef to he Crown Prince of Sweden. 

Stockholm, Sept. 1, 1810. 
«\Ve the undersigned. States-general of the king- 
dom of Sweden, counts, barons, bishops, representa- 
tives of the nobility, clergy, burghers, and peasants, 
assembled in the extraordinary Diet at Orebro, make 
known, that his Royal Highness Prince Charles Au- 
gustus, of Schleswig Holstein Augustenburg, elected 
Prince Royal of Sweden, of the Goths and Vandals, 
being deceased without heirs male, and judging that 
it is our duty to prevent and to avert the danger to 
the independence and tranquility of the kingdom, as 
well as tlie rights and privileges of its inhabitants, 
which might result from a vacancy of the throne, and 
a consequent election; exercising at the same time, the 
power which is reserved to us by the ninety-fourth 
article of the constitution of the sixth of June, 1809, 
of electing in such case a new dynasty; — for these 
reasons, and considering that the high and mighty 
Prince and Lord, Jean Baptiste Julien Bernadotte, 



1S7 

Prince of Ponte Corvo, is endowed with virtues and 
qualities, which give us the well-founded hope of en- 
joying, under the reign of tha<^ prince, a good admin- 
istration and prosperity, the fruits of a legal, ener- 
getic, and beneficent government: we, the States-gen- 
eral of Sweden, upon the proposition of our august 
king now reigning, under condition that the said Prince 
and Lord, the Prince of Ponte Corvo, have before his 
arrival on the Swedish territory, embraced the evan- 
gelical Lutheran religion, and signed the conditions 
drawn up by us, have voluntarily elected by free and 
unanimous suffrage, for ourselves and our descendants, 
the high and mighty Prince Jean Baptiste Julien Ber- 
nadotte. Prince of Ponte Corvo, to the dignity of 
Prince Royal of Sweden, to reign in Sweden and its 
dependencies after the decease of our present august 
sovereign, (whose days may the Almighty prolong!) 
to be crow^ned King of Sweden, and receive the oath 
of fidelity; in short to govern the kingdom according 
to the literal sense of the constitution of the sixth of 
June, 1809, and of the other laws in force, as well 
fundamental as general and special, the whole con- 
formable to the answers which his Royal Highness 
shall now give, and afterwards at his accession to the 
throne. We also confer on the legitimate male descen- 
dants of his Royal Highness, the right of filling the 
throne of Sweden, in the order and manner which are 
literally prescribed in the law of succession which we 
have established. We, the States-general of Sweden 
have, in consequence, confirmed the present act of elecr 
tion, by the signature of our names, and affixing our 
seals. — Done at Orebro this 21st of August, in the 
year of the Christian era, 1810." 

The anaexed letter was addressed by the subject of 



1S8 

these mf moirs to the king of Sweden, upon the intel- 
ligence of his election heing communicated to him. 

"Sire, 
*'I will not attempt to represent to your majesty the 
feelings by which I was pervaded, when I understood 
that a nation, highly celebrated in the annals of the 
world, had thought fit to direct their attention towards 
a military character, who owes every thing to the 
affection of his country. It will be equally difficult 
for me to express my gratitude and astonishment at 
the wonderful magnanimity with which your majesty 
presented, as your successour, a person bound to you 
by no tics. The more your majesty has endeavoured 
to accomplish this object for the Swedish people, the 
more infinite is my gratitude. I do not conceal from 
nn self the extent nor difficulty of my duties; but if I 
can trust to my own heart, I shall fulfil them. There 
ncAcr existed in the soul of man a more powerful 
spring of action, and never was tliere a happier op- 
portunity presented for him to dedicate his existence 
to tlie welfare of a nation. As soon as your majesty's 
letter \\ as delivered to me by the Count Morner, I 
hastened to forward it to his majesty the Emperour 
and King. He was pleased completely to crown his 
goodness towards me, by autiiorizing me to become 
the adopted son of your majesty. According to what 
you have been pleased to address me, I shall hasten 
my dcpartui-e, to lay at your majesty's feet my grate- 
ful homage, and to make your majesty the depositor 
of njy oalh. To this day I have placed my whole 
fame and character on serving my country; but 
France will, I venture to flatter myself, assist me in 
my exertions for the benefit of Sweden. She cannot, 
without emotion, see one of her children destined by 



129 

the voice of a magnanimous people to govern a king- 
dom which has been long numbered among her 
allies. 

"I am, vs^ith profoundest respect. Sire, your most 
devoted and obedient. 

<«J. Bernadotte,** 

After making his solemn profession, the Prince of 
Ponte Corvo, on the 15th of October, crossed from 
Wyborg to Corsoer in Zealand, passing through a 
fleet of 500 merchant ships which were under a strong 
British convoy, and from Zealand he proceeded in a 
Swedish vessel to Helsanburg. 

The subjoined letter was addressed by the Crown 
Princ« of Sweden to the King, upon landing in Swe- 
den, and in answer to the King's presenting him with 
the Swedish orders. 

*^J\'*o'Demher 1, 1810. 
*<Sire, 
*< Conscious that the repeated honours done me, not 
only by your majesty, but by the Swedish nation, can 
never be recompensed, I cannot but labour under great 
difficulty, in the expression of the gratitude I feel to so 
noble a king of so noble a nation. Your majesty and 
the people of Sweden may rest fully assured that their 
interests and welfare shall ever be nearest my heart, 
and that I will rather sacrifice that life which they 
have deemed worthy of such distinction, than suffer 
them to be injured or encroached upon. It could 
not be without some degree of pain and reluctance 
that I accepted the high dignity of being made Crown 
Prince of Sweden, aware as I am of my incapacity. 



13d 

born and bred a soldier, to perforin the arduous and 
important duties of that station. The honours with 
which your majesty has been graciously pleased to 
invest me, shall never be sullied by the wearer; and 
it shall be my constant study to add new lustre to 
their brightness. 

*<Feeling myself, as I have already observed, wholly 
incompetent to express my gratitude, I have the great 
honour to be, your majesty's most humble, devoted, 

and aft'ectionate," &c. 

I cannot, in this place, avoid introducing the char- 
acter drawn of the Prince Royal by Madame La Ba- 
ponue de Stael Holstein:— « 

^«It is, perli^ps, your least praise, that even among 
brave men, you are distinguished by courage and in- 
trepidity; qualities which in you are tempered by a 
goodness still more sublime. The blood of the war- 
riour, the tears of the poor, even the apprehensions of 
the public are the objects of your watchful humanity; 
you fear but to witness the sufferings of your fellow 
creatures. An exalted station has not effaced from 
your heart its tenderness or sympathy. 

<'It has been said by a Frenchman, that your royal 
highness unites the chivalry of republicanism with 
that of royalty, and it is indeed impossible to imagine 
a degree of generosity not congenial to your charac- 
ter. In the relations of society you are far from im- 
posing restraint by an unnecessai-y reserve; and it is 
perhaps not too much to affirm, that you could win the 
suffrages of a whole nation, one after the other, if 
every individual, of which it was composed, had tlie 



131 

privilege of conversing with you for a quarter of an 
hour. Yet to this graceful affability you add, that 
masculine energy w^hich extorts confidence from all 
superiour minds. 

"The Swedes, once so celebrated for their gallant 
achievements, inheriting the noble qualities of their 
ancestors, hail you as the presage of returning glory. 
By you, sir, their rights are respected, no less from 
principle than from inclination. Under circumstances 
of peculiar delicacy, you have repeatedly shewn that 
you were as zealous to guard the bulwarks of the con- 
stitution, as other princes have been anxious to in- 
fringe them. Accustomed to find in these duties no 
invidious restriction, but a safeguard and support, you 
have uniformly shewn such a deference for the king's 
wisdom and experience, as throws a new lustre on the 
power committed to your trust. Pursue, sir, the career 
which presents so glorious a prospect to your view, 
and you shall teach the world what it has hitherto 
been slow to learn, that real intellectual greatness in- 
cludes moral excellence, and that the hero who is tru- 
ly magnanimous, far from despising the human race, 
believes he is superiour to other men, only because he 
is able to sacrifice his interests for their welfare.'** 

After his arrival in Sweden, the Prince Royal em- 
ployed every means to obtain the approbation of the 
Swedes, and to gain their confidence. He had, as re- 
quired, adopted the Lutheran tenets of the Swedish 
church, and he now, by acts of the most extraordina- 
ry beneficence, endeavoured to attain universal love 
and respect throughout the kingdom of Sweden. He 

» rfrfe Reflection* on SuicMp. 



13S 

purchased with his private fortune the estates in Po- 
merania that had been distributed among French offi- 
cers, and restored them to their true and lawful owners 
and lie accomodated the Swedish government with the 
loan of more than 300,000 pounds sterling, at five per 
cent, interest. These measures produced the desired 
effect, and tlie Prince Royal of Sweden became gener- 
ally respected and esteemed. 

On the 1st of November, in the presence of the 
Diet, this officer was installed, and the opportunity 
presented itself to him for publicly delivering the po- 
litical sentiments which would direct his future con- 
duct. The following is his address: 

" Sire, 
"In appearing this day before the throne of your 
majesty, surrounded by the States-general of the 
realm, my first duty, as it is the first wish of my heart, 
is to lay at your feet the public homage of the sacred 
and inviolable sentiments which for life attach me to 
your majesty. I pay this homage to my King, Sire^ 
but I also pay it to the person of a prince, who, long 
before he mounted the tlirone, had acquired by his vir- 
tues the confidence and love of the nation. In diffi- 
cult circumstances, the State has always had recourse 
to your majesty: twice the throne was vacant, and 
twice your majesty performed the painful duties of 
royalty, without any other interest but that of the pub- 
lic weal; but all at once broke forth one of those rev- 
olutions which heaven appears sometimes to permit, 
as a lesson to princes, and the nation conjured your 
majesty to place yourself on that vei-y tlirone which 
you had so long defcndo<l. I could never have fore- 
seen that I should one dov be associated to destinies so 



133 

glorious, and that your majesty, after having deigned 
to fix upon me the suffrages of your people, wouhl at 
last crown so many favours by adopting me for your 
son. A title so dear fills my soul with an ambition the 
most noble! What am I not bound to do, to merit, to 
support, that illustrious name which your majesty has 
this day bestowed upon me? It is not without great 
distrust of my own powers, that 1 have accepted a 
task at once so honourable and so difficult. If I have 
been able to resolve upon it, it was only from thinking 
that I should follow in every thing the counsels of your 
majesty, and that near you I should be instructed in 
the great art of reigning. God grant. Sire, tbat I may 
long enjoy your lessons. God grant that the youthful 
mind of ray son may be modelled after yours, and be 
penetrated with the great examples which your majes- 
ty presents to his descendants. 

**Messieurs the Deputies of the Nobility! 
<«Called to be the first defender of the Throne and 
of the State, I trust that you will second me in that 
noble office. You know, gentlemen, that primitive no- 
bility was the reward of great services performed to 
the country; and what obligations are not they under 
to the State, who enjoy by birth the rewards merited 
by their ancestors? The sacrifice of their life on every 
occasion is the least of their duties: it is only by giv- 
ing an example of perfect disinterestedness, by an en- 
tire submission to the King and to the laws; it is only. 
In short, by living without reproach, that the nobility 
of your ancestors is really to be preserved. 

««Gentlemen, Members of the Clergy! 
*«The sublime morality of the gospel, which it is 
your duty to preach, should serve as a guide to all 
18 



134 

menj it contains a lesson for kings and people. I shall 
with pleasure avail myself of your information, and 
my heart will be grateful for the good that you do in 
diffusing, like good pastors, tbe precepts and the suc- 
cours of the religion of Jesus Christ, 

«Ge;ntlemen Burgesses! 
"Industry, arts, and commerce, ensure the prosper- 
ity of a State, as tlicy increase the happiness of fami- 
lies, in a free nation, and under a just government: 
genius and talents lead to every thing, and those who 
distinguish themselves in your order, have great claims 
to the esteem of the sovereign, 

<*And you, brave Swedish peasants! 
*^<I have every wliere heard proclaimed the qualities 
which distinguish you, and I see with a pleasing emo- 
tion the particular consideration which your country 
grants to you. What, are not they highly worthy of 
those distinctions, whose arms alternately support and 
defend the country? Continue to honour by your la- 
bour and your virtues the useful and respectable order 
that you form in the State. Your king watches like a 
father over your dearest interests: his majesty will 
permit me to participate in his tender solicitude, 

*'It is, however, to you all, faithful representatives 
of the Swedish nation, that I address myself. The 
king deigned to propose me as successour to the 
throne; you confirmed that choice by an election free 
and UHanimous, and his majesty this day indissolubly 
binds the ties which already attach me to you. So 
many favours, such esteem and confidence, impose on 
me the greatest obligations; I feci them sensibly, and 
am firmly resolved to fulfil them. Bred in camps, I 



135 

luring you a frank and loyal soul, an absolute ^ ,- t'd- 
iiess to the king my august father, an ardent atbii-e to 
do every thing for the happiness of my new country; 
with such intentions, I hope to do good. Sound po- 
licy, that alone which the laws of God authorize, 
must have for its basis justice and truth: such are the 
principles of the king — they shall also be mine. I 
have beheld war close at hand, I know all its ravages: 
there is no conquest which can console a country for 
the blood of its children, shed in a foreign land. I 
have seen the great Emperour of the French, so often 
crowned with the laurels of victory, surrounded by his 
invincible armies, sigh after the olive of peace. Yes, 
gentlemen, peace is the alone glorious object of a wise 
and enlightened government: it is not the extent of 
a State which constitutes its force and independence; 
it is its laws, its industry, its commerce, and, above 
all, its national spirit. Sweden, it is true, has sus- 
tained great losses; but the honour of the Swedish 
name has not suffered tlie least attaint. Let us submit, 
gentlemen, to the decrees of Providence, and let us 
recollect, that it has left us a soil sufficient to supply 
our wants, and iron to defend it," 

At the time of the Prince of Ponte Corvo's election, 
it is very evident that the Swedish government was 
temporising with Buonaparte, and endeavouring to 
avoid the evil towards which he was pressing it; but 
when the latter perceived no steps were taken to aid 
his ambitious projects, he fully explained his morti- 
fied feelings tathe Swedish minister at Paris, the Ba- 
ron de Lagerbjelke, who in the following dispatch to 
the King of Sweden, dated Paris, October 26, 1810, 
lost no time in communicating the same to his. couft. 



136 

• ' ^^ jithstaiuling all the personal prejudices of 
which I have been the object, it would have been easy 
{()V me to have prepared myself against a scene but 
little agreeable. The nature of my conferences with 
the Duke of Cadore; the precipitate departure of M. 
de Tchernichcff; the catastrophe with which Switzer- 
land saw herself threatened on commercial accounts; 
the advantages gained in Portugal, by which it was 
no doubt intended to profit, to bear down the English 
on all points at oncej all these circumstances united, 
had given me sufficient insight to judge what the object 
of the audience would be; but I acknowledge that I 
did not expect so violent an explosion. I had never be- 
held the Emperour in anger; but he was so at this 
time, to a point which surpasses all imagination. 

"I was introduced a little after nine o'clock in the 
morning. I found the Duke de Cadore with the Em- 
perour, and the presence of this third person caused 
me at first to suppose that I had been called to hear an 
official declaration, but that I should not be permitted 
to attend the discussion. I nevertheless resolved to 
reply on every occasion where I could introduce a 
word. 

<'It is impossible for me to render your majesty 
an account of all that the Emperour said during the 
space of at least an hour and a quarter, because his 
agitation was so great, his discourse so broken, his re- 
petitions so frequent, that it was extremely difficult to 
remember all. I began by presenting your majesty's 
letter. <Do you know (said tljc Enjperour) what is 
the subject of this letter?' 1 explained it, adding a com- 
pliment. Without making any reply thereto, the Em- 
perour went on. (Every break in the Emperour's 



y 



137 



discourse will sufficiently explain to your ma ■ the 
nature of the short replies which I endeai id to 
make in the intervals.) *0h, ho! Monsieur Le Baron, 
do they at length cease to helieve, in Sweden, that I 
am merely a dupe? Do they think thati can accommo- 
date myself to this mixed or half state of things? — ■ 
Oh! give me no sentiments! it is from facts that we 
draw our proofs in matters of politics. — Let us see 
these facts. You signed the peace with me in the be- 
ginning of the year — you engaged yourselves to break 
off all communications with England — you kept a 
minister at London, and an English agent in Sweden* 
until the summer was far advanced — you did not inter- 
rupt the ostensible communication by the way of Got- 
tenburg until still later, and what was the result of it? 
That the corrospondence remained the same, neither 
more nor less active — Poh! the question is i\j^t a com- 
munication by this way, or by that; it is reg^ar; it is 
very considerable. — You have vessels in all the ports 
of England — Salt; truly] — Do you get salt in the 
Thames? The English trading vessels besiege Gotten- 
burg — a fine proof that they do not enter there!— 
They exchange their merchandize in the open sea, or 
near to the coasts. Your little islands serve as maga- 
zines in the winter season. Your vessels openly carry 
colonial produce into Germany; I have caused half a 
score of them to be seized at Rostock — Is it possible 
that one can affect thus to be mistaken on the first 
principle of the continental system? — Very well. You 
do not approve of this in your note; it is not of that I 
complain, it is of the fact — I have not slept a single 
hour in the night, on account of your affairs: you 
might suffer me to repose in peace, I have need of it. 
— Again is this restitution of the English prisoners a 
proper thing; those who had so imprudently attempted 



138 

the dignity of the king, and violated his territory. 
Restored without any satisfaction! — Was it not so. 
Monsieur de Cadore? — (The minister all in tremula- 
tion, did not omit replying affirmatively to this, as well 
as to some other similar questions.) Another violation 
of territorial right, is the capture of a French priva- 
teer in the interiour of the port of Stralsund,* hut to 
me, no account has been rendered.* — It is not to one's 
friends that one shews these little attentions! — ^Very 
well, remain with the English! — If one were to judge 
from the evil you have done me this very year, you 
never could have been better friends to the English 
than at this moment. — Oh, oh! it is you that tell me so! 
It is you who assure me that Sweden wishes rather to 
remain on my side, but proofs, I say, give me proofs! 
Very well! your state, at the end of an unfortunate 
war, !• ^Y ared some circumspection and precaution.—- 
Well, 1 ,^ ive had them to my loss. You have cajoled 
me, yci^^^ youj you, yourself. — You have had the ad- 
dress to- gain the bad season; you have time to settle 
your interests with England; is it just, that if any 
engagements exist contrary to faith, that I am 
to bear the burthen? — You have had time to put your- 
selves in a state of defence: you have still the winter 
before you. What then have you to risk? — Yes, the 
export trade; that is the battle horse: what then is 
become of the neutral flag? — There are no longer any 
neutrals: England acknowledges none, nor can I ac- 
knowledge them any longer. — Salt, aye, salt! one can 
find means to obtain what is necessary. How did you 
do in 1801, when you were in open rupture with Eng- 
land?— Suffer! Do you not believe that I suffer? That 

• The trade of Stralsund, by the kind's orders, paid the value of this priTateeTj 
which was taken merely in consequence of her own imprudence. 



139 

Frande, Bordeaux, that Holland, that Germany suf- 
fer? But this is precisely what an end must he put 
to. A maritime peace at any price! — [Here the Em- 
perour was violently agitated.] Yes, Sweden is the 
sole cause of the crisis I experience. Sweden has 
done me more harm than five coalitions together. But 
now, restored to her communications with the rest 
of Europe, she has taken advantage of it to carry 
on the commerce of England. — Ah! sir, time! always 
time: I have lost too much time. — It was necessa- 
ry, you said, to enter into the new system, without 
making too many sacrifices: it was also necessary 
for me, you added, to do some good for Sweden. 
Hear me: when you made choice of the Prince of 
Ponte Corvo, did I risk nothing in permitting him 
to accept the offer? Was I not on the point of em- 
broiling myself with Russia? Was it not believed — 
is it, not, perhaps, still believed — that you, on your 
side, and the Saxons and Poles on the other, sup- 
ported by me, would arm to conquer their lost pro- 
vinces? Were not men's minds then much agitated 
in Poland? What did I do then? I caused such things 
to be said,^uch reports to be circulated, as might de- 
tach Russia from my system. It is only now that, 
more and more undeceived with respect to Swedish 
politics, I have taken a decisive step, which I will not 
conceal from you. I have sent back M. de Tcher- 
nicheff to Russia; 1 have informed him of tlie declara- 
tion which I have made to you to-day. I have strongly 
pressed the Emperour Alexander to take the same step 
on his part. — Choose! Cannon must be fired on the 
English which approach youi' coasts; and their mer- 
chandize in Sweden be confiscated, or you must have 
' war with France. I cannot do you any great harm: 
I occupy Pomeranla, and you do not much care about 



140 

it: but I can cause you to be attacked by the Russians 
and by the Danes; and I can confiscate all your ves- 
sels on the continent, and I will do it, if within fifteen 
days you are not at war with England. — Yes, you 
are right; the time for the going and returning of the 
courier must be reckoned, and something more. Here, 
M. de Cadore, I order you to send off a courier imme- 
diately; and you, sir, will do the same. If within 
five days after the official act of M. Alquier, the king 
has not resolved to be at war with England, M. Al- 
quier shall set out immediately, and Sweden shall have 
war with France and all her allies. — Yes, it is just, I 
have not positively demanded tlie state of war before 
this moment; but I am now forced to it by all imagina- 
ble means. Sweden has already found that she cannot 
remain in a mixed state with England, without doing 
great injury to the continent. At length, things have 
taken a general developement, which requires a per- 
fect equality of measures, or a state of open hostili- 
ties. This is what all other powers have thought 
ought to be done. — Russia, though stronger than the 
rest, has only obtained peace with me, on the condi- 
tion of declaring, war against England. Austria, a 
power of the first order, if France did not exist, has 
frankly taken her resolution. I have been a long 
time the dupe of Prussia, and of you. She at length 
came to find, by the catastroplie of Holland, that it 
was necessary to come to a determination, and she 
frankly adopted a state of war. Denmark has done 
so long ago; but with wliat title can 1 exact from 
that country, what I cannot obtain from Sweden. 
I often say to myself, who knows whetlier I shall 
always be on a good looting with Russia? \V ho can 
read t!ie chapter of events? May it not opp. day be of 
the greatest interest to me, to have a friendly power 



183 

in the North, strong in its own tesources, as well as 
by my alliance? But could it, meanwhile, he believed 
in Sweden, that I would relax any thing in my inva- 
riable principles in favour of the new Prince Royal. 
On the contrary, the political crisis into which I have 
brought myself in her favour, gives me a stronger 
title. Meanwhile Sweden owes a great obligation to 
the person of the Prince Royalj for without that 
choice, (by no means influenced by me,) I should, two 
months ago, have taken the step which I now find 
myself forced to do. I nevertheless repent of this de- 
lay, which, on account of the season, has been so bene- 
ficial to youj not because I regret whatever good you 
may have derived from it, but because you have used 
me too ill. For a long time past, the office which was 
intended for you, was ready in the bureau of Monsieur 
the Duke de Cadore, (an affirmative reverence from 
the minister,) but I waited for the arrival of the Prince 
Royal, who is instructed in my way of thinking.* — • 
I have not been able to do it; I have told you, that I 
was on the point of embroiling myself with Russia; I 
gave all Europe notice, that at this decisive moment 
my system might be capable of modification. Besides 
this, new complaints against Sweden reached me from 
all sides. Ah! I know what you have to say to me; 
I have read all that you wrote. — Well, be it so; there 
may have been some exaggeration in the complaints, 
but there still remains a sufficient quantity of truth. — 
I wish that you had a better cause to defend. Oh no! 
the situation of the Prince Royal will not be so diffi- 
cult: all comes from hence, there is nothing embar- 

• The Einperour had pvomised the Prince Royal not to exact any thing from Swe- 
den before the Month of May, 1811, and the Prince Royal assured him, that after that 
term Sweden would extend her system of policy, and be openly foi or against the Con» 
tinental systo, according as her interests may require. 

19 



134 

rassing in the choice. But yet, could they believe in 
Sweden that they might serve the cause of England, 
without resentment on my part because I love and es- 
teem the Prince Royal? I likewise love and esteem 
the King of Holland; he is my brother, and yet I have 
broke with him: I liave silenced the voice of nature, 
to give ear to that of the general interest. 

If you were on my frontiers, I should with regret be 
forced to act as I have just done with the Swiss. I 
have caused some troops to march, and the govern- 
ment has confiscated the English merchandizes. — 
Let us resume ourselves at length; let Sweden act as 
she thinks most advantageous; I know that it is out of 
my power to force her. Let her frankly range her- 
self on the side of England against me and my 
allies, if such be her interest; or let her unite with 
me against England. — But the time for hesitation is 
passed: when five days have elapsed, M. Alquier will 
depart, and I will give you your passports. You have 
said no more than what you ought to have said; but I 
cannot do otherwise than send you back. — Open w^ar, 
%or constant friendship: this is my last word, my ulti- 
mate declaration. Adieu, may I see you again under 
more favourable auspices!" — The Emperour then left 
me without deigning to hear me further. On leaving 
his apartments, I saw no one else in the other apart- 
ment, not even the officers on duty. I know not what 
had given cause to this extraordinaiT^ circumstance, 
whether it was by order, or proceeded from the spon- 
taneous discretion of the functionaries, because the 
Emperour had frequently elevated his voice to such a 
pitch, that it was impossible not to hetu* him in the 
next room. 



135 

<f*I had afterwards a conference with the Duke of 
Cadore, on parting from whom I set off from Paris. 
This conversation was nothing more tlian a repetition 
of what had passed with the Emperour; that my dis- 
patch to your majesty, and that of tlie minister to 
Baron Alquier, might agree as near as possible. 
Every thing having been said on this subject, I could 
not forbear expressing to the Duke of Cadore, how 
sensibly I felt the harsh and violent form into which 
the Emperour had put his demand. The minister 
laid great stress on the satisfaction which I ought to 
feel (as he told me) in tempering the Emperour's vi- 
vacity, especially towards the conclusion, and quoted 
several passages which afforded some hopes for the 
future. He gave me a courier passport, which was 
prepared before-hand. He promised me not to send 
his courier from Fontainbleau, until about the same 
time that I should expedite mine from Paris; that is to 
say, in the evening of this day, in order that the 
bearer of this might have a little advance. He as- 
sured me, that M. Alquier would have two days to 
arrange his office, besides the five which formed the 
time of his limitation. He dwelt much on the fact, 
which he requested me also to consider as important, 
that the election of Monseigneur the Prince Royal, far 
from having provoked this step on the Emperour's 
part, had retarded it for several months, and had 
thereby procured for Sweden a delay doubly impor^, 
tant, on account of the season. He added, that the 
Emperour's resolution of taking his steps, even whilst 
the Prince was said to be on his journey, had partly 
in view the intention of not rendering him innocently 
unpopular."^ 

Threatened by France, by Russia, and by Den- 



436 

mark, the Swedish government declared in a mani- 
festo its adherence to what the French Ruler termed 
the continental system, and war against Great Bri- 
tain and Ireland. All intercourse with the British 
dominions was therefore prohibited, and the importa- 
tion of colonial produce interdicted. The government 
of Great Britain was, however, fully sensible of the 
causes that occasioned this manifesto: and it accord- 
ingly made no perceptible difference in the relation of 
tliis country towards Sweden. 

The above declaration was, nevertheless, far from 
being popular with the Swedish nation. Opinions 
were propagated throughout the kingdom that it was 
the design of the Prince Royal to enforce the continen- 
tal system,* establish the French power in the Baltic, 
and, finally, by a war for the recovery of Finland, to 
co-operate for the expulsion of the Russians from St, 
Petersburgh. 

The Prince Royal w as not, however, blind to the 
critical and singular situation into which his destiny 
had placed him. He was sensible of the power he 
might command, and of what essential service he 
could be in restoring peace, or a balance of power on 
the continent of Europe. Instead, therefore, of giv- 
ing full effect to the continental system, Buonaparte 
very eai'ly perceived that his former associate in arms 
far from holding out to him expectations of aid at a 

f "The irifallible consequences of the continental system, to every State, ai'e the 
ruin of coiniiierce and industi-j-; overwhelming taxes; the overthrow of all constittf 
tional for/iis; interminable wars on account of others; equally expensive and sangui]>< 
ary; armies estrange<l from their country, and all of them ready to turn their arms 
against their felluw-eitizens; ininces, incapable of protecting, endowed with an un- 
limited power of oppressing their subjects, and trembling in their turn before their 
roaster; finally, in the midsi of terrour, misery, ignominy, the obligation to erect tri- 
;unphal arches, and to siug faymns of adulatioa>"-«4^|!>Mi to tlie Nations of Europe, Cc, 



lay 

time when he requirerl all the strength and capahilities 
pf Sweden, evidently, notwithstanding the declaration 
before noticed, inclined to the cause of his adversaries, 
as it seemed impossible for Sweden to remain in a state 
of neutrality. On the 8th and 12th of December, the 
following letters were addressed to Buonaparte by the 
Prince Royal of Sweden: — 

Stockholtrh Ifec, 8, 1810. 
««Sire, 
^*By my letter of the 19th of November, I had the 
honour to inform you, that the King, faithful to the 
sentiments which he expressed to your Majesty, re- 
solved to declare war against England, notwithstand- 
ing every thing which the safety of his States opposed 
to that measure, and with the object alone of pleasing 
your Majesty. 

«<The King will always be proud of having given 
this proof of devotion to your Majesty; but it belongs 
to me, who am a daily witness of his sufferings and in- 
quietudes, to appeal to your majesty's magnanimity in 
an affair which may have an influence upon the 
King's health, and upon the happiness of Sweden. I 
flatter myself that your majesty will graciously re- 
ceive my observation^. 

«<In addressing myself directly to you. Sire, I take 
the advantage of an old privilege which I shall al- 
ways like to preserve, and which will renew in my 
heart, recollections equally agreeable as glorious. 

<^Sweden, in the sad condition to which the last war 
reduced her, neither should nor can aspire, but after 
a long peace. It was the only means of regaining. 



138 

by agriculture and commerce, the losses she had su;^- 
tained, and thus re-establishing by degrees her 
finances, and of entirely recruiting her military sys- 
tem and her administration. Far from that, it is Swe- 
den who has just declared war; she has hazarded this 
step without a single battalion ready to march, with- 
out her arsenals or magazines containing the least ne- 
cessary article; and what is still worse, without a single 
sous to provide for the expenses of so great an enter- 
prize; in a word, in the station in which the govern- 
ment of this country is, such a step would undoubtedly 
make it be accused of folly, if your majesty's appro- 
bation did not legitimate every thing. Sweden, it is 
true, possesses in herself the principles of a great 
force; her inhabitants are by nature warriours; her 
constitution allows of 80,000 men being put on foot, 
and its male population is such, that this levy can 
he easily raised; but you. Sire, know that war can 
only be supported by war; and a great military 
state, purely defensive, is an expense which Sweden 
cannot support without foreign aid. 

<*The constitutional laws forbid the king from im- 
posing new taxes, without the consent of the general 
States; and the war has just destroyed one of the prin- 
cipal branches of public revenue, the produce of the 
customs, which amounted to more than six millions of 
francs a year. To that must be added, that the con- 
tributions are in arrear, and that the confiscations 
which are made, fall upon Swedish subjects, and not 
upon foreigners, who take the precaution of insuring 
payment for the goods imported. 

In short, Sire, our situation is most alarming, if 
France does not come to our succour. Since the first 
alliance concluded between Gustavus Vasa and Fran- 



139 

cis I. France has been not only the constant friend of 
Sweden, but has supported and succoured her in all 
her wars. Nature seems to have destined these two 
nations to live in harmony; and if she has refused 
Sweden riches, she has endowed her with valour and 
all the qualites requisite for the execution of the great- 
est designs. There is here but one wish, that of being 
Mncerely in accord with France, and of participating 
in her glory every time an opportunity presents itself. 
But money fails us. 

**Deign, Sire, to take into consideration the parti- 
cular state of this country, and be pleased to kindly 
accept the expression of the sentiments, &c." 

From the same to the same, dated Stockholm^ December 
12, 1810. 

<*Sire, 
*<M. de Tchernicheff asked me if I would take 
charge of a letter for your Majesty. I hastened to 
do it, hoping that he will tell your Majesty what he 
has seen in Sweden. In truth. Sire, full of confidence 
in your magnanimity, and your particular kindness 
for me, I have but one thing to desire, viz. that the 
truth should be known to you. 

«M. de Tchernicheff will tell your Majesty that 
Sweden is upon the point of being reduced to the most 
deplorable state; that she is without any means of sup- 
porting the war which she has just declared; that nev- 
ertheless the government redoubles its efforts in so 
violent a crisis; but that it is not in the power of the 
King to extend, as in other places, the system of con- 
fiscations; that the constitution here guarantees the 



140 

rights and property of every individual; and that even 
if the King should adopt a contrary measure, no 
Counsellor of State would give his consent to it. 

"I have the happiness of having in my favour the 
general opinion of the nation; hut most certainly I 
should lose this moral force that day in which it was 
helieved I had tlie least intention of making the small- 
est attempt upon the constitution. 

*«The King offers to your majesty every thing in 
his power. No sacrifice will be painful to him, to 
prove to your Majesty his devotion to France; hut I 
conjure you. Sire, deign to calculate our means, and 
grant us the confidence we merit, by our sincere and 
unalterable attachment." 

Notwithstanding these letters, Buonaparte, on the 
26th December, demanded that Sweden should place 
in his pay a suflSicient number of sailors, to complete 
the crews of four sliips of the Brest fleet. The min- 
ister of Napoleon in making this application to the 
Swedish Minister observed,— **It would be suflicient, 
to meet the desire of the Emperour, and to satisfy the 
demand which I have the honour to make, if the num- 
ber of officers, masters, marines, and sailors, did not 
exceed 2000. The Emperour will charge himself 
with all the expense of their journey, and every pre- 
caution will be taken in order that the marines and 
sailors may be properly supported, and the officers 
fully contented with their treatment. In the critical 
state in which the Swedish finances are at this present 
moment, it will, perhaps, be agreeable to his niajesty 
to diminish the expenses of his mariue, witliout, hovN'- 



141 

ever, leaving inactive the talents and courage of his 
seamen. The good office which the Emperour ra- 
quires of his majesty the King of Sweden, having al- 
ready eagerly been performed by Denmark, his Impe- 
rial Majesty is convinced that he has not too much 
presumed upon the friendship of a power attached for 
such a length of time to France, by a reciprocity of 
interest and good-will, which has never ceased to ex- 
ist." 

The reply of the Baron d'Engeatrpm to the last 
communication deserves remark: 

<«The constitutional laws of the State prevent the 
King from acquiescing of himself, in the Emperour's 
demand concerning the 2000 seamen. Rivalling Den- 
mark in the desire to contribute to the accomplish- 
ment of his Imperial and Royal Majesty's views, the 
^King, nevertheless, does not think that the example of 
that country, where the will of the King is an absolute 
law, can be applicable to Sweden. In consequence of 
the late events which have placed his Majesty on 
the throne, a constitutional compact has been renew- 
ed between the Sovereign and the nation, which it is 
not in the power of any person to infringe. His Ma- 
jesty, in consequence, and in the most lively manner, 
regrets that the good office that the Emperour requires 
of him, should precisely fall on a matter which does 
not depend on his own will. 

<*No new levy can be made, according to the tenor 
of the constitution, but with the consent of the States. 
Those to which they have already consented express- 
ly presuppose their being intended for the defence of 
the country; and the number of common seamen is sq 
20 



H2 

much diminished since the loss of Finland, that tliey 
are scarcely suflScient for the service of the navy, es- 
pecially under the present circumstances. But if even 
the King could, as he might wish to do, succeed in 
putting aside tliose ties which are imposed on Mm by 
the laws of the State, and the riglits of the citizens; 
yet, nevertheless, his majesty fears that the 2000 Swe- 
dish seamen transferred to Brest, would not entirely 
fulfil the just expectations of his Imperial Majesty. 
Attached to his harren soil, to his domestic relations 
and habits, the Swedish soldier could not withstand the 
influence of a southern sky. He would be ready to sa- 
crifice every thing in defence of his home, but when 
far from thence, and not immediately combatting for 
it, his heart would only beat for his return to his 
country. He would, consequently, carry with him 
into the French ranks, that inquietude and discourage- 
nwsnt, which destroys the finest armies more than the 
steel of their enemies. With regard to the officers of 
the navy, there is no obstacle against their serving in 
France, and his Majesty with pleasure permits them 
to profit by the generous offer of his Imperial and 
Royal Majesty." 

On the 17th March, 1811, a proclamation was is- 
sued at Stockholm, apprizing the public that his Ma- 
jesty tlie King of Sweden, in consequence of ill health, 
had thought it necessary, for the present to with- 
draw* from the management of public affairs, and 
that he had appointed the Prince Royal to administe r 

* Temporary raisnaticn of the king. 

"We, Charlej, by the grace of God, King of Sweden, Sec. &c. make known, whereas, 
owing to an ilbiess that has befallen us, and from which, by the assistance of the Almigh- 
ty, we hope soon to be restored, we have dcemetl it necessary, in order to promote tl)i8 
object, for the present to withdraw ourselves from the cares and troubles which are so 
C^ly united with the msnagemcnt of public affaits; and in order, during our iUne» , 



143 

the Royal authority iii his stead arid in his nartie, but 
under the restriction of not creating any noblemen or 
knights. 

Whilst exercising the powers of the Swedish mon- 
arch, the Prince Royal rigouroi^ly devoted himself to 
the correction of all public abuses, and to produce 
throughout the kingdom a beneficial and necessary re- 
form. His efforts were attended with ample success, 
although the undertaking was in itself extremely ar- 
duous, and even dangerous: but tlie Swedes perceive 
ing that he was ever ready and ever first to set the ex- 
ample, and that although at the head of the nation, 
he gave himself up to no luxuries, and refused no ex- 
ertionj they began gradually to admit vsuch a reform as 



not toreiard the progress of affairs, we have thought fit to order what is to be observed 
xespecting the government^ and havfllg at the same time found that the States of the 
kingdom, on drawing up the constitution, have, only from tender motives towards us, 
not pointed out how and in Avhat manner, ^s in the present case, the government is to 
lie managed during the illness of the king, when the succesaour is of age, we have there* 
fore, thought that we could in nO better way fulfil our obligation towards ourselves and 
the kingdom, than by entrusting the care of both to a prince, who, being intended 
one day to be seated on the throne of Sweden, has by the ties of nature and friendship 
become most dear to us. and who wiites in his person the lave of us and of the Swedish 
people. And we do, therefore, hereby appoint and nominate our beloved son, his 
Royal Highness Charles John, Prince Royal of Sweden, and Generalissimo of our 
military forces by land and sea, during our illness, and until we shall be restored to 
health, to manage the government in our name, with all the rights we possess, and 
alone to sign and issue all orders, &c with the following motto above the signature: — 
•During the ilhiess of my gracious King and Lord, and agreeable to his appointment.'— 
However, his Royal Highness the Prince Royal, must not, during the administration 
of our royal power and dignity, create any nobleman, baron, or count, or bestow on 
any one the orders of knighthood. All vacant offices of state can only, until further or- 
ders, be managed by those whom his Royal Highness shall appoint for that purpose. 
We rest assured that our faithful subjects will joyfully receive the resolution thus 
taken by us, which gives an-unexceptionable proof of our unlimited confidence in our 
well-beloved son, his Royal Highness the Crown Prince, and of the sentiments which 
we have always entertained and which we never shall cease but with our life to enter. 
tain for the people, the government of whom Providence has confided to us. This 
serves for the information of all and every one concerned: in further testimony where, 
of we have signed these presents, and caused the same to be sanctioned by our royal 
seal. 

"CHARLES (L. S,} JAS. AVETTERFEtDT. 
"Palace of Stockholm, March 17, 1811." 



144 

could alone raise them to their ancient state of re- 
nown. The annexed edict for the depressing of lux- 
ury was issued on the 10th of July. 

Edict/ or the repressing of Luxury. 

"Sir 
«'The King has felt himself ohliged, in order to de- 
stroy that tendency to luxury and effeminacy which 
has already, perhaps, taken root in the nation, not 
only to invite his faithful subjects to renounce such 
pernicious abuses, but also to renew the ancient ordi- 
nances with regard to smuggling, which shall in future 
bfc severely j^unished. Under these circumstances, I 
think it my duty to invite you to exert yourself with 
zeal in this important business. The experience of 
past time, and the renewal of ancient ordinances, suf- 
ficiently show the inefficacy of laws in attaining the 
object proposed. When nations the most respectable 
prefer an empty brilliancy to that which is real, fri- 
volity to gravity, and the thirst of gain to an honest 
competence, they are led astray; the superfluities of 
foreign countries injure the native productions of their 
own, and every one sacrifices the public good to his 
personal interest. It is in vain that the law opposes 
its authority to the progress of the evil, w hile punish- 
ment, slowly reaching two or three individuals, gives 
time for inventing new subterfuges. But there is a 
powerful mean of supporting the law, of rousing the 
national spirit, and of i*e-establishing order—it is the 
example of submission to authority, of respect for the 
ordinances connected with decency, morals, and so- 
briety, which should be given by the fust societies of 
the kingdom, by holding up the dissipated and the sel- 
fish to contempt, and by honouring those who practice 



14*5 

temperance, and know how to impose upon themselves 
privations. It becomes me, especially, in the high 
rank which I hold from the confidence of the King 
and the nation, to set the first example; and it will not 
Cost me any sacrifice to do so. From the moment 
when my fate was united with that of Sweden, I have 
not felt the least foreign want; I have had no wants 
but those of my new country. Desolated by war and 
internal troubles, h ardly escaped from dangers which 
appeared to threaten its speedy ruin, when its pi^eser- 
vation and security require the slight sacrifice of some 
imaginary wants of luxury, I cannot believe that the 
thinking part of the nation, who know our external re- 
lations, and our situation at home, who call to mind the 
honour and the virtues of their ancestors, will forget 
for a moment their dignity and their duties; but listen- 
ing to these too noble motives, will enforce the wise 
views of the King.— It is to you. Sir, as well as to the 
other authorities of the kingdom, that the honour will 
belong of realizing as much as possible, by your dis- 
tinguished example, the intentions of his majesty; and 
I expect with entire confidence this new proof of your 
fidelity to your King, and of your devotedness to your 
country, assuring you that I shall mark it with pecu- 
liar complacency. 

<« I therefore recommend you to Almighty God, and 
am your affectionate, 

*< Chari.es John," 
Castle of Drottningsholnif 
July 10, 1811. 

The Prince Royal having held the reins of the Swe- 
dish government till January, 1812, the king resumed 
the royal authority, and the following address, ex- 



146 

plaining the m6asui*es adopted during his retirement, 
their success and policy, was delivered on the 7ch of 
that month hy tlie Prince Royal to his Majesty. 

"Sire, 
**My most ardent wishes have heen fulfilled. The 
fe-establislied health of your Majesty again enables 
you to resume the government of the kingdom. 

*<I can appeal to your own heart, to judge of the de- 
lightful emotion mine experiences in replacing in the 
hands of your Majesty, an authority, the prolonged 
exercise of which has constantly kept before me the 
danger which threatened your days. 

^'Notwithstanding the daily reports which I have 
submitted to your Majesty, both respecting the exte- 
riour and interiour situation of the State, I, neverthe- 
less, consider it my duty to profit by the present occa- 
sion, so important for me, upon all accounts, to present 
your Majesty with a rapid sketch of them. 

"When your Majesty decided upon embracing the 
continental policy, and declaring war against Great 
Britain, Sweden had got clear of an unfortunate con- 
test; her wounds were still bleeding; it was necessary 
for her to make new sacrifices, at a moment even when 
she lost one of the principal branches of her public 
revenues; the wiiole of that produced by the customs 
being nearly annihilated. 

*'In defiance of the insulated situation of Sweden, 
she has performed for the interest of the common cause, 
all that could be expected from a people faithful to 
their engagements; more than 2,000,000 of rix dol- 



i4ir 

lars liave been expended in recruiting the army, and 
placing in a state of defence the coasts of our islands, 
our fortresses, and our fleets. 

<<I will not conceal from your Majesty, that our 
commerce has been reduced to a simple coasting trade 
from port to port, and has greatly suffered from this 
state of war. Privateers, under friendly flags, against 
which it would have been injurious to have adopted 
measures of safety and precaution, have taken advan- 
tage of our confidence in treaties, to capture, one after 
another, nearly fifty of our merchantmen; but at last. 
Sire, your flotilla received orders to protect the Swe- 
dish flag, and the just commerce of your subjects, 
agaihst piracies wliich could neither be authorized nor 
avowed by any government* 

*'The Danish cruisers have given much cause fof 
complaint on our part; but the evil decreases daily, 
and every thing leads us to think the lawful commerce 
of Sweden will not be any longer disturbed by them, 
and that the relations of good neighbourhood will be 
more and more strengthened. 

"The cruisers under the French flag have given an 
unlimited extension to their letters of marque; the in- 
juries which they have done us, have been the object 
of our complaints. The justice and loyalty of his Ma- 
jesty the Emperour of the French have guaranteed 
their redress. 

*<The protections given by friendly governments 
have been respected; and such of their ships as have 
touched upon our coasts, have been at liberty to con- 
tinue their voyage, whatever might be their destina- 
tion. 



148 

^«* About fifty American ships, driven upon our coasts 
by successive tempests, have been released. This act 
of justice, founded upon the rights of nations, has 
been appreciated by the United States; and appear- 
ances promise us, that better understood relations 
with their government will facilitate the exportation 
of the numerous piles of iron with which our public 
places are now filled. 

"Political considerations join with the family con- 
nexion which unites your majesty and the King of 
Prussia, to consolidate the relations of friendship that 
subsist between the two powers, 

««The peace with Russia will not be troubled: the 
treaties by which it is cemented are executed on both 
sides with frankness and good faith. 

«<Our relations with the Austrian empire are upon 
a most amicable footing: the remembrance of glory 
brings the two nations nearer to each other; and your 
Majesty will neglect nothing which can contribute to 
maintaining the reciprocity of confidence and esteem 
it causes. 

<«If Spain and Portugal should assume a tranquil 
posture, these countries will oiferto Swedish commerce; 
advantages which would guarantee the perfection of 
the plans she has commenced for improving her iron 
mines. 

*'Our intercourse with Southern America has en- 
tirely ceased; civil war ravages these fine and unfor- 
tunate countries. When they have a regular admin- 
istration, the produce of the kingdom will find an ad- 
vantageous vent there. 



149 

*'The maritime war has interrupted our commercial 
relations with Turkey; but nothing which interests 
that ancient friend of Sweden, can be indifferent t|o 
your majesty. 

<*Such, Sire, are the exteriour relations of Sweden; 
justice and loyalty towards all nations have beeii the 
political guides of your majesty. 

*«The army and the finances, those two principal 
guarantees of a State, have, above all, been the objects 
of my constant solicitude. 

**A wise economy has governed the expenditure of 
the funds destined for the armaments which the state 
of war rendered necessary. This war having great 
influence upon the exportation of Swedish productions, 
upon the general proceedings of trade, and the imagi- 
nations of merchants, had caused the course of ex- 
change to rise to an exorbitant height: I particularly 
directed my attention to stop this scourge of States, 
which having once broken ifs dykes, no bounds can be 
placed to its ravages; by repressing on the one side stock- 
jobbing; by carrying into execution the ancient laws 
against the unlawful exportation of gold and silver; 
by imposing a duty of transit upon the conveyance of 
ingots from foreign countries, passing through Swe- 
den; by endeavouring to bring back the nation to the 
principles of economy which distinguished their an- 
cestors. On the other side, I have endeavoured to 
give activity to thcinteriour industry and lawful com- 
merce of Sweden, 

«I have had the satisfaction of seeing my efforts 
crowned with success, and that the course of exchange 
31 



150 

upon Hamburg, which in March last was at 136 sk. 
on the 3d of the present January was only 8* sk. 

<*I have taken measures to render more, general the 
manufacture of linen, and the culture of h')mp; to pro- 
ceed actively in the discovery of new sources for ob- 
taining saltj to continue the clearing of the grounds in 
Dalecarlia; to establish anew communication with and 
new markets in Verweland; to form a company destin- 
ed to carry on the herring fishery in the open seaj to 
augment our commercial relations with Finland, to 
carry into execution the financial resolutions of the 
States of the kingdom; to give to the direction of ma- 
gazines, to those of the customs, and to the island of 
St. Bartholomew, a fresh organization. 

♦<The harvest not having proved a good one, I have 
adopted means to prevent a scarcity, by causing corn 
to be imported from foreign countries; but in order to 
prevent Buch importation influencing the exchange, 
salt must be exported for grain so received. This ex- 
change will be effected with so much the more facility, 
as there yet exists a sufficient provision of salt in the 
country for two years consumption. 

«<I have with grief observed, that the immoderate 
use and manufacture of brandy, by which the general 
interests are sacrificed to individual ones, corrupt the 
nation, and will sooner or later inevitably cause a 
scarcity. I have only employed exhortations on this 
subject, which I have collected from the paternal sen- 
timents of your Majesty, and I leave it to other times, 
and to the judgment of the States, to put an end to 
an evil which every body acknowledges continues in- 
creasing, '^•* 



151 

«*I hdve paid particular attention to the state and 
organization of the hospitals, to the religious estab- 
lishments, and to the means of preventing, or at least 
of relieving, the condition of mendicity. 

*'The interiour police and agriculture have not been 
lost sight of; and a central academy of agriculture will 
shortly be established, for the purpose of giving an im- 
pulse and an encouragement to the public economy, 
and to scientific knowledge, which will contribute to 
ensure the prosperity of the State. 

«<The works of the canal of Gothland, that grand 
monument of your Majesty's reign, have been carried 
on with great activity. Those of the canal of Soder- 
telje, stopped by obstacles which the zealous efforts of 
the directors have not been able to surmount, have 
again recommenced with more rapid strides. 

**I have carried into execution the solemn resolution 
of the States of the kingdom, sanctioned by your Ma- 
jesty, regarding the national armament; but, careful 
not to deprive agriculture of any more arras than are 
indispensably necessary for the defence of our coun- 
try, I have merely ordered a levy of 15,000 men, ex- 
clusive of the 60,000 which the States had placed at 
your Majesty's disposal. The most direful errours 
were carried even into Schonen, where violence and a 
public rebellion threatened for a moment to oppose the 
execution of the measures ordained. Already did our 
enemies, or such as are envious of our repose, begin 
to rejoice at our intestine dissentions; but these were 
soon suppressed by the united force of the army and 
the laws, and were succeeded by the return of national 
sentiment and obedience to their duty. The vacan- 



15S 

cies in the new enrolment and in the national arina« 
ment are almost entirely filled up, and every laeasure 
h^ been taken to render them useful in this employ. 
The regular army has been recruited, as is also the 
whole of the reserve new clothed, and supplied with 
well-conditioned arms, of which sufficient quantities 
are found in the magazines; and the founderies for 
arms have obtained a renewed activity. The making 
of gunpowder and saltpetre has been extended and 
improved, and the artillery put into a respectable con- 
dition. 

"The pensions granted to officers and soldiers 
wounded during the war, have been either confirmed 
or augmented. The accounts of the expenses of the 
late war have been accelerated; and such measures as 
have been successively adopted, had no other object in 
view than to render the troops serviceable, and to sup- 
ply them with the necessaries requisite. 

"Your Majesty will deign to perceive by the state- 
ment, that notwithstanding all that the detractors of 
Sweden have insinuated on this head, as that it would 
take sixty years to organize an army of 60,000 men, 
yet the effecting of this will be apparent in the mont^ 
of April next, both to the friends and enemies of your 
Majesty. The intent of this augmei1|ation of our 
military force is merely defensive. Without any other 
ambition than that of preserving her liberty and laws, 
Sweden will have the means of defending herself; and 
she can do it. Bounded by the sea on one side, and 
on the other by inaccessible mountains, it is not 
solely on the courage of her inhabitants, nor in the 
remembrance of her former glory, that she has to seek 
for tlie security of her independence: it is rather to be 



16S 

found in her local situation, in her mountains, her for- 
ests, in her lakes, and in her frosts. Let her tliere- 
fore profit by these united advantages, and let her in- 
habitants be thoroughly persuaded of this truth, that 
if iron, the produce of their mountains, cultivates 
their farms, by ploughing up their fields, that it is 
likewise iron alone, and the firm determination of 
making use of it, that can defend them. - 

^«I have been seconded in my efforts by the good 
spirit prevalent in the army, and by the zeal and 
labilities of the public functionaries. 

«The magistracy has maintained its ancient repu> 
tation; it has painful duties to fulfil, but this has pro« 
cured it a fresh claim to the general esteem. 

"The different departments of the chancerj^ of state 
have rivalled each other in giving the quickest dis- 
patch, compatible with the formalities required by our 
laws and customs, to all business which has come un- 
der their cognizance. 

"The secretary of state's department for church af-^ 
fairs has, since the 17th of March, expedited nearly 
600 causes; that of the interiour, 9B2; that of finance 
and commerce, 1653; and the war department, 2535. 
The causes in which final decission has not yet been 
given, and which are confined to a very moderate num- 
ber in each department, in comparison to the extent 
coming under their several denominations, are either 
of such nature as to require your Majesty's decision, 
or to be again brought forward for final determina- 
tion. 



"Should your Majesty deign to recognise, in the 
sketch whicli I have laid before you, the desire which 
has actuated me to deserve tlie high confidence., you 
have shewn towards me, this would prove next to the 
joy which I feel on your Majesty's re-establishment, 
the most pleasing recompense for all my pains. May 
heaven, in accordance with my prayere, lengthen your 
Majesty's days; and that Sweden, protected by your 
virtues. Sire, may find an imperishable guarantee for 
her future destiny, in the absolute devotion which my 
heart has vowed to your Majesty, in the respectful 
attachment of my son, in the sanctity of the laws of 
the State, in the uprightness of the public functiona- 
ries, and in the union, the courage, and the patrio- 
tism of all Swedes! 

"With the most sincere sentiments of attachment, 
and with the most profound respect, I am. Sire, your 
Majesty's most humble and faitjiful subject, and good 
sou. 

"C. John. 
"Palace at Stockholm^ 
f'Jaiu 7, 1813." 

From this document it will be observed, that by 
adopting the continental system, and declaring war 
against Great Britain, the produce of the Swedish 
customs had been ruined, and her commerce reduced 
to a mere coasting trade; that notwithstanding her 
adoption of the Napoleon system, cruisers both under 
the French and Danish flags had committed great out- 
rages on Swedish property. These outrages Buona^ 
parte promised to redress, instead of which, however, 
the same system of injustice was pursued. It will be 
further remarked from this document, that at the pe- 



155 

riod of its publication, Sweden was also upon an ami^ 
cable footing with Prussia* Russia, Austria, and Tur- 
key. But the most important feature of this interest- 
ing document is, that it pointed at a system of inde- 
pendent neutrality. 

In the same month, tile Swedish minister at Paris 
finding that the depredations of the French~privateers 
on Swedish vessels were daily augmenting, represent- 
ed to the French minister the immense losses which 
thence resulted to his nation^ but he could neither ob- 
tain the restoration of the captured vessels, or even 
the repression of the abuses for the future. 

To possess a pledge that might in a degree influence 
the conduct of the Swedish government in the war 
that was breaking out at the commencement of the 
year 1812, Buonaparte had seized on Swedish Pome- 
rania. In the month of January 20,000 French troops 
under General Friant, entered that province, and on 
the 26th they took possession of its capital, Stralsund. 

On the Swfedish commandant, Peyron, informing- 
the French general that it was his intention to resist 
the occupation of the Isle of Rugen, the latter replied, 
tliat he, Peyron, was his prisoner; and immediately 
put seals on the custom-house. Rugen was afterwards 
occupied by the French, and the vessels and packets 
on the coast were detained for their service, and the 
French colours hoisted in place of the Swedish, 

A fleet, with General Englebauht on board, arrived 
off Stralsund in the month of February, to ascertain 
the state of the French troops in Pomerania, and to 



156 

bring back those of Sweden, but it was permitted to 
have no communication whatever with the shore. 

The attention of Europe was now fixed upon Swc* 
den. Her conduct assumed a more determined aspect, 
and it was generally believed the Prince Royal of Swe- 
den would become a competitor in the field with his 
former associate in arms, and attempt the salvation of 
Europe. 

Great expectations of the success of the cause were 
therefore universally indulged on the idea, that if the 
Prince Royal joined the allies, it would be a decisive 
indication of the hopes entertained by that wary gene- 
ral, relative to the result of the campaign — he being 
fully acquainted wdth the personal character of Buo- 
naparte, and with the real extent and amount of the 
French resources. But notwithstanding the distrust 
he now felt as to the views of Buonaparte, in regard 
to Sweden, he still appears to have desired to prevent 
the bloodshed and misery which was approaching the 
nations of the continent. On the 14th of March, 1812, 
the Prince Royal of Sweden, from Stockholm, addres- 
sed the following sensible and most honourable letter 
to Buonaparte. 

"When the voice of the Swedish people called me to 
succeed to the throne, I hoped, on quitting France, to 
be always able to unite my personal affections with the 
interests of my new country; my heart cherished the 
hope that it might identify with the sentiments of this 
people; yet always preserving the remembrance of its 
first affections, and never losing sight of the glory of 
France, nor of the sincere attachment which it has 
vowed to your Majesty, an attat^mient founded on a 



157 

confraternity in arms, which so many great deeds 
have illustrated. 

'«It was with this hope that I arrived in Sweden; I 
found a nation in general attached to France, but still 
more so to their liberties and their laws; anxious for 
your friendship. Sire, but never desiring to obtain it 
at the expense of their honour and independence. Your 
Majesty's minister wished to irritate this national feel- 
ing, and his arrogance has offended every one; his 
communications bore no character of those regards 
which are mutually due from crowned heads to each 
other. I, fulfilling your Majesty's intentions, pleased 
his passions. Baron Alquier spoke like a Roman pro- 
consul, Avithout reflecting that he was not speaking to 
slaves. That minister has, therefore, been the first 
cause of the distrust which Sweden has begun to dis^ 
cover with regard to your Majesty's intentions con- 
cerning her. Subsequent events have added weight 
to it. 

«I have already. Sire, had the honour, in my letters 
of the 19th November and 8th December, 1810, of 
giving your Imperial Majesty information of the situ- 
ation of Sweden, and the desire which she had of find- 
ing in your Majesty a supporter. She could not but 
perceive in your Majesty's silence &.n unmerited in- 
difference, and she owed it to herself to provide against 
the storm which was about to break out on the conti- 
nent. Sire, humanity has already suffered too much. 
The blood of man has for the last twenty years, inun- 
dated the earth, and there is nothing wanting to your 
Majesty's glory but to put a stop to it. 

**If yoHr Majesty thinks proper that the King should 

32 



f$8 

cause tlie Emperour Alexander to be informed of the 
possibility of a reconciliation, I augur sufficiently well, 
from the magnanimity of that Monarch, to dare assure 
you that he will willingly agree to overtures, that may 
be equally equitable for your empire and for the north. 
If an event so unexpected and so universally desired, 
could take place, how many nations of the continent 
would not bless your Majesty! Their gratitude would 
be augmented by reason of the horrour which inspires 
them against the return of a scourge which has lain 
so heavy on them, and the ravages of which have left 
such cruel traces behind it. 

"The plan adhered to by the Swedish government 
while the success of the nothern campaign remained 
dubious, was dictated by the soundest policy relative 
to the circumstances of the country. Exhausted as 
Sweden was by a former war, and by no means free 
from party dissentions at home, the Swedish govern- 
ment would have exhibited the greatest imbecility if it 
bad plunged into a dangerous quarrel before there ex- 
isted the strongest grounds that the cause in which it 
was to engage would be finally attended w ith the most 
beneficial effects to tUe nation." 

Shortly after the last communication from the Prince 
Royal to Buonaparte, the Swedish minister. Baron 
d'Engerstrom, addressed a letter to the Count de Niep- 
perg, Austrian minister to the court of Stockholm, in 
which he observed, that Sweden would be sufficiently 
justified for all the engagements she might make with 
the enemies of France, from the menaces of that pow- 
er. Her reiterated attacks upon the Swedish com- 
merce; the carrying off nearly 100 vessels destined for 
friendly ports, and subject to France; from the se- 



159 

questration placed upon Swedish property in Dantzig 
and other ports in the Baltic; and from, at last, the 
invasion of Pomerania, done in contempt of treaties. 

In this note the Baron also makes the following im- 
portant observations: — "However just the complaints 
which she has against that power, she does not desire 
war, and she does not like to be forced to make it, even 
to preserve her independence and laws. Sweden is 
therefore ready to listen to any conciliatory proposi- 
tions which shall be made to her — Justice is on her 
side. If Sweden was convinced that the Emperour 
Alexander armed to subjugate Europe, and subject 
every thing to the Russian system, and extend his 
States to the north of Germany, Sweden would not 
hesitate a moment to declare and fight against this 
ambition; she would be directed by the state principle 
which should make her fear the increase of so danger- 
ous a power; but if, on the contrary, Russia only arms 
in her own defence, to preserve her frontiers, her 
ports, and even her capital, from all foreign inva- 
sion — if in it she does but obey the imperious duty of 
necessity, it is for the interest of Sweden not to bal- 
ance a moment in defending the interests of the north, 
since her own are common with them, 

"Sweden cannot flatter herself with being able, as 
a second power, to avoid that servitude with which 
France threatens States of the first order. A war un- 
dertaken to reconquer Finland would be in no manner 
for the interest of Sweden. Europe is informed of the 
causes which made her lose it. To undertake a war 
to again obtain possession of it, would be not to under- 
stand the interests of the Swedish people: this conquest 
would occasion expenses which Sweden is not in a con- 



160 

dition to support; and its acquisition, admitting that it 
could be accomplished, would never be able to balance 
the dangers which would result from it to her. The 
English, during the absence of her armies, would give 
her fatal blowsj her ports would be burned or destroy- 
ed, and her maritime towns reduced to ashes. Besides, 
as soon as a change should be effected in the political 
system of Russia, whether after success or defeat, her 
ancient views upon Finland would not fail to make a 
disastrous w ar weigh heavy upon Sweden: the Gulph 
of Bothnia separates the two States; no motive of di- 
vision exists, and the national hatred daily disappears, 
in consequence of the pacific dispositions of tlie twp 
sovereigns, 

"If France will acknowledge the armed neutrality 
of Sweden, a neutrality which must carry with it the 
right of opening her ports with equal advantages for 
all powers, she has no motive to interfere in the events 
which may take place. France engages to restore 
Pomerania, and in case she should refuse this restitu- 
tion, which, at the same time, the rights of nations 
and tlie faith of treaties demand, his Majesty the King 
of Sm eden accepts for this object only, the mediation 
of their majesties the Emperours of Austria and Russia. 
His Majesty will agree to a reconciliation compatible 
with the national honour and interests of the north. 
His Majesty the King of Sweden, persuaded that all 
the preparations made by his Majesty the Emperour 
Alexander are for a purely defensive purpose, and in- 
tended but to prepare for his empire that armed neu- 
trality which Sweden wishes, in concert witli Russia, 
to establish, engages to use all his efforts with his Im- 
perial Majesty to prevent a rupture taking place, till 
a period is fixed, which will enable Swedish, French^ 



161 

Austrian, and Russian plenipotentiaries to meet, and 
agree, in a friendly manner, upon a system of pacifi- 
cation, which, founded upon the said mentioned neu- 
ta'ality, in determining the differences now subsisting 
between the north and France, may insure to Europe 
the repose of which it has so much need. 

^ote from M. DWhsson, Swedish Charge d'affaires, at 
' • Faris, to the Duke of Bassano, dated May 38, 1812. 

«<The vexations exercised by privateers under the 
French flag, against the commerce of Sweden, multi- 
plying in an unheard-of proportion, and extending 
themselves even to provisions, must necessarity im- 
pose the sacred obligation upon the King, of endea- 
vouring to inform himself as well as his subjects, 
upon^-he state of things, which gives to peace all the 
character of war. The privateer, the Mercury, hav- 
ing placed herself upon the coasts of Sweden, in order 
to freely commit piracies there — thus, in fact, consti- 
tuting herself an enemy — was arrested in her courses, 
and brought into a Swedish port, through her raotiv** 
of defence, which could not be understood, 

*'The King, wlio never for a moment doubted the 
sentiments of justice which animated his Majesty the 
Emperour of the French; has at different times ad- 
dressed himself to that Sovereign, stating complaints 
respecting the conduct of the French privateers, so 
diametrically contrary to the nature of the relations 
which subsisted between the two courts, and the tenor 
of treaties, and even to that of the letters of marque 
with which the privateers were furnished. His Ma- 
jesty, however, not having obtained any answer to the 
just demands whicl\ the interest of his people prescrib- 



i62 

ed, sent, immediately upon hearing of the detention 
of the privateer, the Mercury, an extraordinary cou- 
rier to the undersigned, for the purpose of having 
placed, in all its parts, under the eye of the French 
minister, a recapitulation of all that had passed, and 
what Sweden desired as a guai'antee for the future. 
The undersigned fulfilled these orders on the 17th of 
last January, and that communication has likewise re- 
mained without a reply. 

**In the midst of this expectation, and whilst his 
Majesty, hearkening but to his sentiments of esteem 
and friendship for his Imperial Majesty, gave himself 
up to the most just hopes, he learned that a very con- 
siderable corps of French troops had, on the 27th of 
January, entered Swedish Pomerania. The French 
Charge d' Affaires, resident at Stockholm, was requir- 
ed to explain the motives of this sudden and unex- 
pected invasion, but he alledged that he liad not the 
least notice of it. 

*'The undersigned addressed himself to the same ef. 
feet to the Duke of Bassano; and received for answer, 
that it was requisite to wait orders from the court of 
Stockholm. 

"These orders, confined to demanding an explana- 
tion, frank and open, respecting the intentions of his 
Majesty the Emperour and King, in respect to the 
occupation of Pomerania, were dispatched on the 4th 
and 7th of February, from Stockholm. These dis- 
patches never reached the undersigned. 

"The interruption of the ordinary course of letters 
destined for Sweden having commenced shortly after 



163 

the French invasion of Pomerania — the certainty that 
inquiry was made at Hamburg for funds which were 
there on account of Sweden, and receipts given for 
them — the arrest, and even sale of the Swedish ships 
in the ports of Mecklenburg and Dantzic, opened a 
vast field for conjecture. At last, to acquire some 
certainty relative to the state of tilings in Swedish 
Pomerania, the King sent General Engelbrichten 
there; but having quickly received the intelligence 
that General Friant refused to receive the General, or 
even reply, by writing, to the letter which the latter 
had addressed to him, his Majesty began then to be- 
lieve a system followed, in ignorance of which it was 
wished to keep Sweden, respecting general affairs, 
and those which in particular related to her. Not- 
withstanding all these precautions and oppositions, 
several details concerning the conduct of the French 
troops in Pomerania were learned— a conduct which 
could with difficulty be reconciled to that friendly as- 
pect which she seemed to wish to attach to the inva- 
sion of that province, the integrity of which, as well 
as that of Sweden, was guaranteed by his Majesty 
the Emperour, in the treaty of Paris. Public func-* 
tionaries arrested, dragged to Hamburg, threatened 
with the most rigourous treatment, in order to make 
(f them betray their duty and their oaths; seals placed 
upon the King's coffers; his Majesty's ships forced, 
by camion shot, to suspend their departure, and finally 
unladen, and sequestrated for the profit of France; 
heavy burthens imposed upon a country which scarce- 
ly had time to breathe from the misfortunes it had suf- 
fered; and finally, the disarming of the Swedish troops 
which were there:, all these motives joined, must jus- 
tify the Kind's desire of an explanation, which at 
the same time the dignity of sovereigns, and the stipu- 
l^ions of treaties subsisting between France and Swe- 



164 

den, demand. The King had no engagement with 
other powers which was contrary to the treaty that 
bound him to France, and the articles of whicli his 
Majesty was constantly endeavouring to fulfil. If the 
British squadron spared the coasting trade of Sweden, 
that conduct was gratuitous on their part, and pro- 
ceeded, without doubt, from a wish of opposition in 
their measures to those adopted by the privateers of 
powers the friends of Sweden. If the Swedish ves- 
sels which carried produce from their country to the 
ports of Germany, made use of English licenses to 
escape the enemy's cruisers, they could not have ex- 
pected on arriving to be confiscated, when they knew 
as a certain fact, that vessels from Dantzig for Eng- 
land had passed the Sound, furnished with licenses 
from the Emperour and King. 

*<If the King, attacked in one of his provinces, by 
France, then began to think of the safety of his king- 
dom, his Majesty flatters himself that the Emperour 
and King himself would not have acted otherwise in 
his place. One may deny every thing but existing 
facts,- and it is therefore upon facts alone the King 
takes his ground. 

«*As an accompaniment of tliis expose, his Majesty ^ 
has ordered the undersigned to officially declare to the 
Duke of Bassano, 

<« <That the King formally protests against the in- 
vasion of Pomerania by the French troops. 

" <That his Majesty cannot view this invasion but 
as a violation of tlie treaty of peace between Sweden 
and France; but that in consequence of the principles 



165 

of moderation which the King wishes to preserve in the 
proceedings of his policy, and as a proof of the con- 
tinuance of his sentimfents for France, liis Majesty 
will not yet consider himself in a state of war with 
her, but will wait for a frank and open explanation 
from her government respecting the invasion of Po- 
merania. 

*< *That to establish a perfect reciprocity in awaiting 
this explanation, the payment of the interest and cap- 
ital of the sums due to the countries united to France, 
by virtue of the imperial decrees, shall be suspended; 
a measure which shall be continued till Swedish Po- 
merania be evacuated, and a good harmony re-esta- 
blished between the two courts. 

<* *That finally, as the military occupation of Po- 
merania places his majesty in a situation to consider 
himself perfectly freed from the particular engage- 
ments which he had contracted with France, and 
principally from the obligation of continuing a war 
which Sweden only undertook in consequence of her 
adhesion to the continental system; an adhesion which 
was but the consequence of the restitution of Pomera- 
nia; the King declares, that from this moment, he 
considers himself in a state of neutrality in regard to 
France and England; that in consequence of this sys- 
tem adopted by his Majesty, he will employ all the 
means in his power to protect the neutral flag of Swe- 
den against depredations, the duration of which has 
been owing to their great patience. 

** ^Sweden, attached to France since the time of 
Francis I. desires but to be able to combine her affec- 
tions \yith supporting the independence of the north, 

23 



166 

The King would suffer a lively grief if he should see 
himself obliged to sacrifice his natural inclination to 
the great interests of his country, which at the same 
time repel slavery and disgrace: but firmly resolved 
to support the dignity of bis crown, and the liberty of 
his subjects, his Majesty will tranquilly wait the ulte- 
riour development of events.' 

" *The undersigned entreats the Duke of Bassano 
to have the goodness to make his Majesty the Empe- 
rour and King acquainted with this note, and to com- 
municate to the undersigned, as soon as possible, his 
majesty's reply. 

(Signed) « <C. D'Ohsson.' " 

On the 20th of April, the King of Sweden having 
assembled the Diet of his kingdom at Orebro, he 
opened it by a speech in which he observed — "I have 
called you together at a moment when great and im- 
portant occurrences out of our native country seem to 
threaten Europe with new misfortunes. Guarded by 
her situation from the forced obligation of paying obe- 
dience to foreign sway, which possibly might not accord 
with her own interests, Sweden has every thing to hope 
from unity, valour, and conduct; every thing to lose, 
if she gives herself up to intestine divisions and un- 
wise fear:" And further, that he had "fixed his deter- 
mination of going hand in hand with his son (the 
Prince Royal), in defiance of threats from without, and 
possibly of opinions at home, to maintain tlie liberty 
and independence of this ancient realm." 

The Prince Royal, in his speech, addressed the fol- 
lowing I'emark particularly to the burghers: "You 
will shew what a nation is capable of cfTecting when 



167 

determined to free its commercial industry of aJl fo- 
reign yokes," 

When the Russian General Von Suchtelen was on 
his mission at Stockholm, Mr. Thornton, the Britisli 
minister, though as yet under no public character, 
joined him: but shortly after the assembling of the 
Diet, orders were dispatched to the coast, to afford 
British ships in distress every assistance they might 
require; and Mr. Thornton was received at Orebro 
as the accreditted minister of Great Britain at the 
Swedish court.* 

On the 18th of August the Swedish Diet closed with 
a speechf from the king, wherein he observed to them, 

* About this time, the annexed decree relative to com; 
merce, was issued by the Swedish government; 

"Art. 1. From the li5th of August, all the ports of 
Sweden shall be opened to vessels of every flag and na-. 
lion; but every foreign vessel is only allowed to impart 
such goods as are either produced or manufactured iu 
that very country or its colonies. 

"Art. 2. All goods imported by foreign vessels, to pay 
forty per cent, more duty than such as arrive in Swedish 
ones: every vessel acting against the above order, and im- 
porting such goods as are not derived from her home coun= 
try, shall be confiscated, together with her cargo. 

"Art. 3. Swedish vessels are allowed to import all 
goods from every place of the world. The exports are 
equal for Swedish as for foreign vessels." 

t "It was with the height of confidence that I summon- 
ed you, good gentlemen and Swedish men, to meet and 
consult on matters of the greatest consequence to our na- 
tive country. It is now that, with my hopes for the future 
being confirmed, I close your discussions. You have fol- 
lowed the advice of your king, and found that it was con-^- 
formable with what your own hearts and the welfare of 
the kingdom demanded of you. Animated by the spirit 
of unity, you have laid aside private interest for the gen- 
eral well-being, and united for the defence of Sweden, 



168 

they had ''shewn that a king with upright intentions 
and an open candour need not fear, even under foreign 
circumstances of great import, to rely on the depu- 
ties of his people; and that no foreign power could 
loosen or break those bonds of union, which bind to- 
gether the heir to Sweden's throne and tlie free-born 
heirs to Sweden's soil." The King also informed the 

those powers, wliich, parted, would only have witnessed 
her degradation or her fall. You have shewn that a King., 
with upright intentions and an open candour, need not to 
fear, even under foreign circumstances of great import, to 
rely on the deputies of his people; and that no foreign 
power can loosen or break those bonds of union which 
bind together the heir to Sweden's throne and the free- 
born heirs to Sweden's soil. tSince I last saw you assem- 
bled before me, tbe war on the Continent has broken out 
in a greater degree, and has been accompanied with all 
those misfortunes which are nsiially inseperable from it. 
Confident in the maxim which has been confirmed by ex- 
jjerienee, tnat strong defensive preparations are the surest 
wjeans to insure the peaceable situation of a State, 1 have 
found it necessary to pay particular atteution to the mil- 
itary force of tbe kingdom. My own and my son's incli- 
nation should render you assured, good gentlemen and 
Swedish men, that the warlike force shall never be employ- 
ed to any other purpo'-e than to defend the honour of the 
nation, and the interest of our native country. 

''To defend the independence of Sweden against present 
shocks anil future misfortunes, should be tbe united wish 
of yourselves and me. The unity of tbe Swedish people, 
the valour of her sons capable of bearing arms, my son's 
protecting sword, and the warm affection I bear to our na- 
tive country, shall lead the way to this end. 1 have on 
this occasiou, good gentlemen and Swedish men, deemed 
it likewise needful to inform you, that I have, on the 18th 
of last month, concluded a peace with the King of the 
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland; and that 
tbe raiification of this treaty of peace was exchanged the 
day before yesterday. Good gentlemen of the knighthood 
and nobility, continue what you have been and still are, 
true to the memory of your forefiithers, true to your Joint 
duties, and to the great demands which your native coun- 
try has upon you." 



169 

Diet, that confident in the maxim, that strong defen- 
sive prepai'ations are the best means to ensure the 
peaceable situation of a State, he had found it neces- 
sary to pay a particular attention to the military force 
of the kingdom: and he further announced, that on the 
18th of July he had concluded a peace with the King 
of Great Britain,* which had been ratified on the 16th 
of August. 



* This must allude to a treaty of commerce. The fol- 
lowing treaty with Sweden, M'as signed at Stockholm on 
the 3d of March, 1813: 

'•In the name of the most holy and undivided Trinity, 

*'His Majesty the King of the United Kingdom of Great 
Britain and Ireland, and his Majesty the King of Sweden, 
equally animated with the desire of drawing closer the ties 
ol friendship and good intelligence which so happily sub- 
sist between them, and penetrated with the urgent neces- 
sity of establishing with each other a close concert for 
the maintenance of the independence of the North, and in 
order to accelerate the so much wished-for epocha of a 
general peace, have agreed to provide for this tAvofold ob- 
ject by the present treaty. For this purpose, Ihey have 
chosen for their plenipotentiaries, namely, liis Royal 
Highness the Prince Regent, in the name and on the be- 
half of his Majesty the King of the United Kingdoms of 
Great Britain and Ireland, the Hon. Alexander Hope, 
Major-General of his Majesty's armies; and EdAvard 
Thornton, Esq. his envoy extraordinary, and minister 
plenipotentiary to his Majesty the King of Sweden: and 
his Majesty the King of Sweden: Lawrence Count d'En- 
gerstrom, one of the lords of the kingdom of Sweden, 
minister of state for foreign affairs, chancellor of the uni- 
versity of Lund, knight commander of the king's orders, 
knight of the royal order of Charles Xlll. great eagle of 
the I legion of honour of France; and Gustavus Baron de 
Wetterstedt, chancellor of the court, commander of the 
order of the polar star, one of the eighteen of the Swedish 
academy; who,after having exchanged their respective full 
powers, found in good and due forms, have agreed upon the 
following articles: 

Art. 1. His Majesty the King of Sweden engages to 



170 

After the speech from tlie King, the Prince Royal 
aildrcsseil the Diet, in which he commended the cool- 
ness maintained in the deliberations of that assembly, 

employ a corps of not less than 30,000 men in a direct 
operation upon the Continent against the common ene- 
mies of the two contracting parties. This army shall 
act in concert with the Russian troops placed under the 
command of his Royal Highness the Prince Royal of 
Sweden, according to stipulations to this effect already 
existing between the courts of Stockholm and St. Peters- 
burgh. 

"Art. 2. The said courts have communicated to his 
Britannic Majesty the engagements subsisting between 
them, and having formally demanded his said Majesty's 
accession thereto, and his Majesty the King of Sweden 
having, by the stipulations contained in the preceding ar- 
ticle given a proof of the desire which animates him to 
contribute also on his part to the success of the common 
cause; his Britannic Majesty being desirous, in return, to 
give an immediate and unequivocal proof of his resolu- 
tion to join his interests to those of Sweden and Russia, 
promises and engages by the present treaty to accede to the 
conventions already existing between these two powers, in- 
somuch that his Britannic Majesty will not'ouly oppose any 
obstacles to the annexation and union in perpetuity of the 
kingdom" of Norway as an integral part to the kingdom 
of Sweden, but also will assist the views of his Majesty 
the King of Sweden to that effect, either by his good of- 
fices, or by employing, if it should be necessary, his na- 
val co-operation in concert with the Swedish or Russian 
forces. It is nevertheless to be understood, that recourse 
shall not be had to force for effecting the union of Nor- 
way to Sweden, unless his Majesty the King of Denmark 
shall have previously refused to join the alliance of the 
North, upon the conditions stipulated in the engagements 
existing between the courts of Stockholm and St. Peters- 
burgh; and his Majesty the King of Sweden engages, that 
this union shall take place with every possible regard 
and consideration for the happiness and liberty of the 
people of Norway. 

"Art. 3. In order to give more effect to the engage- 
ments contracted by his Majesty the king of Sweden, in 
the first article of the present treaty, which have for its 
object, direct operations against the common enemies of 



171 

^'amidst the din of arms resoundins? from the Dwina 
to the Tagus and the animosity of their neighbours." 
— He also added, "that should there be no hope for 

the two powers, and in order to put his Swedish Majesty 
in a state to begin without loss of time, and as soon as 
the season shall permit, the said operations, his Britanie 
Majesty engages to furnish to his Majesty the king of 
Sweden, (independently of other succours which general 
circumstances may place at his disposal) for the service 
of the campaign of the present year, as well as for the 
equipment, the transport, and maintenance of his troops, 
the sum of one million sterling, payable at Londoa 
monthly, to the agent who shall be authorized by his 
Swedish Majesty to receive the same, in such manner as 
not to exceed the payment of 200,0001. sterling each 
month, until the whole shall be paid. 

<'Art. 4. It is agreed between the two high contract- 
ing parties, that an advance, of which the amount and 
time of payment shall be determined between them, and 
which is to be deducted from the million betbre stip- 
ulated, shall be made to his Majesty the King of Swedea 
for the 'mise en campaigne,' and for the first march of the 
troops; the remainder of the before-mentioned succours 
are to commence from the day of the landing of the 
Swedish army, as it is stipulated by the two high con- 
tracting parties in the first article of the present treaty. 

"Art. 5. The two high contracting parties being de- 
sirous of giving a solid and lasting guarantee to their 
relations, as well political as commercial, his Britanie 
Majesty, animated with a desire to give to his ally evi- 
dent proofs of his sincere friendship, consents to cede to 
his Majesty the king of Sweden, and to his successours to 
the crown of Sweden, in the order of succession estab- 
lished by his said Majesty and the States-general of his 
kingdom, under date the 26th September, IS 10, the pos- 
session of Guadalope in the West Indies, and to transfer 
to his Swedish Majesty all the right of his Britannic 
Majesty over that island, in so far as his said Ma-jesty 
actually possesses the same. This colony shall be given 
up to the commissioners of his Majesty the King of Swe- 
den, in the course of the month of August of the present 
year, or three months after the landing of the Swedish 
troops on the continent; the whole to take place accord- 
ing to the conditions agreed upon between the two high 



172 

Sweden pursuing her way in peace, then will your 
king have recourse to your manly couj'age, and our 
watch-word shall he — God, liberty, and our native 
country." 

contracting parties, in the separate article annexed to.the 
present treaty. 

"Art. 6. As a reciprocal consequence of what has 
been stipulated in the preceding article, his Majesty the 
King of Sweden engages to grant, for the space of twen- 
ty years, to take date from the exchange of the ratilica- 
tions of the present treaty, to tl:e subjects of his Britan- 
nic Majesty, the right of entrepot in the ports of Gotten- 
burg, Carlshamn,and Stralsund, (whenever this hist-men- 
tioned place shall return under the Swedish dominion,) 
for all commodities, productions, or merchandize, whe- 
ther of Great Britain or her colonies, laden on board 
British or Swedish vessels. The said commodities or 
merchandize, whether they be of such kind as may be in- 
troduced and subject to duty in Sweden, or whether their 
introduction be prohibited, shall pay without distinction, 
as duty of entrepot, one per cent, ad valorem, upon entry, 
and the same upon discharge. As to every other partic- 
ular relating to this object, the general regulations exist- 
ing in Sweden shall be conformed to; treating always the 
subjects of his Britannic Majesty upon the fooling of the 
most favoured nations. 

"Art. 7. From the day of the signature of the present 
treaty, his Majesty the King of the United Kingdom of 
Great Britain and Ireland, and his Majesty the King of 
Sweden, reciprocally promise not to separate their mutual 
interests, and particularly those of Sweden, which are 
referred to in the present treaty, in any negotiation what- 
ever with (heir common enemies. 

"Art. 8. The ratifications of the present treaty shall be 
exchanged at Stockholm within four weeks, or sooner, if 
possible. 

*'In faith of which, we, the undersigned, in virtue 
of our full powers, have signed the present treaty, 
and have affixed thereto the seals of our arms. 

«<Done at Stockholm, the 3d March, in the year of our 
Lord, 181,3. 

"Alex. Hope. (li. S.) 

"Kdw. Thornton. (L. S.) 

"Le Comte D'Engerstrom. (L. S.) 

"G. Baron De Wetteustedt. (L. S.) 



173 

A treaty had now for some time been "Commenced 
between the latter power and Russia. It has already 
been stated, that a Russian general was at Stockholm 
for the purpose of opening a treaty. Some difficulty, 
however^ having arisen between the negotiators, a per- 



Separate Article. 

"As a consequence of the cession made by his Britan- 
nic Majesty, in the fifth article of the treaty signed this 
day, of the island of Guadaloupe, his Majesty the King 
of Sweden engages, 

"1. Faithfully to fulfil and observe the stipulations of 
the capitulation of the said island, under the date of 5th 
February, 1810, so that all the privileges, rights, benefi- 
ces, and prerogatives, confirmed by that act to the inhab- 
itants of the colony, shall be preserved and maintained. 

"2. To take for this purpose, previous to the cession 
before-mentioned, every engagement which may be judged 
necessary with his Britannic Majesty, and to execute all 
acts conformable thereto. 

"3. To grant to the inhabitants of Guadaloupe the same 
protection and, the same advantages which the other sub- 
jects of his majesty the King of Sweden enjoy, conforma- 
bly always to the laws and stipulations actually existing 
in Sweden. 

"4. To forbid and prohibit, at the period of the cession, 
the introduction of slaves from Africa into the said 
island, and the other possessions in the West Indies of his 
Swedish Majesty, and not to permit Swedish subjects to 
engage in tbe slave trade, an engagement which his Swe- 
dish Majesty is the more willing to contract, as this traffic 
has never been authorized by him. 

"5. To exclude, during the continuance of the present 
war, all armed vessels and privateers belonging to States 
at war with Great Britain, from the ports and harbours 
of Guadaloupe; and not to permit in any future wars in 
which Great Britain may be engaged, and Sweden remain 
neutral, the entrance into the ports of the said colony of 
the privateers belonging to any of the belligerent States. 

"6. Not to alienate the said island without the consent 
of his Britannic Majesty; and, 

"7. To grant every protection and security to British 
subjects, and to their property, whether they may choose 
to quit the colony or to remain there. 



17* 

sonal interview between the Emperour of Russia and 
the Prince Royal of Sweden was deemed necessary, 
in order to produce a speedy and final adjustment. 



"This separate article shall have the same force and 
effect as if it were inserted, word for word, in the treaty 
signed this day, and shall be ratified at the same time. 
"Alex. Hope. (L. S.) 
"Edw. Thornton. (L. S.) 
"Le Conite D'Engerstrom. (L. S.) 
"G. Baron De Wetterstedt. (L. S.) 

Thefitlloicing is the substance of engagements entered into 
beticeen the courts of St. Petersburg and Stockholm, sign- 
ed at St. Petersburg the 2'ith of March, 1812, so far as 
the same are referred to in the treaty between his Majesty 
the King of Great Britain and the King of Sweden, sign- 
ed at Stockholm on the. 3d of March, 1813. 
"The object of the Emperour of Russia and the King 
of Sweden, in forming an alliance, is stated to be for the 
purpose of securing reciprocally their States and posses- 
sions against the common enemy. 

"The French government having, by the occupation of 
Swedish Pomerauia committed an act of hostility against 
the Swedish government, and by the movements of its ar- 
mies, having menaced the tranquillity of the empire of 
Russia, the contracting parties engage to make a diver- 
sion against France and her allies, with a combined force 
of twenty-five or thirty thousand Swedes, and of fifteen or 
twenty thousand Russians, upon such point of the coast of 
Germany as may be judged most convenient for that pur- 
pose. 

"As the King of Sweden cannot make this diversion in 
favour of the common cause consistently with the security 
of his own dominions, so long as he can regard the king- 
dom of Norway as an enemy, his Majesty the Emperour 
of Russia engages, either by negotiation or by military 
co-operation, to unite the kingdom of Norway to Sweden. 
He engages, moreover, to guarantee the peaceable pos- 
session of it to his Swedish Majesty. 

"The two contracting parties engage to consider the 
acquisition of Norway by Sweden as a preliminary mil- 
itary operation to the diversion on the coast of Germany, 
and the Emperour of Russia promises to place for this ob- 
ject, at the disposal and under the immediate ordere of 



These personages met at Abo, in Finland, on the 
38th of August: the Emperour of Russia had arrived 
there some days earlier, but immediately the Prince 
Royal reached Abo, he waited on him, and banishing 
all ceremony, a conference took place, which lasted 
four hours.* 



the Prince Royal of Sweden, the corps of Russian troops 
above stipulated. 

"The two contracting parties being unwilling, if it can 
be avoided, to make ah enemy of the King of Denmark, 
will propose to that sovereign to accede to this alliance, 
and will offer to his Danish Majesty to procure for him a 
complete indemnity for Norway, by a territory more con- 
tiguoHS to his German dominions, provided his Danish 
Majesty will accede for ever his rights on the kingdom of 
Norway to the King of Sweden. 

"In case his Danish Majesty shall refuse this offer, 
and shall have decided to remain in alliance with France, 
the two contracting parties engage to consider Denmark 
as their enemy. 

"As it has been expressly stipulated that the engage- 
ments of his Swedish Majesty to co-operate with his troops 
in Germany, in favonr of the common cause, shall not 
take effect until after Norway shall have been acquired 
by Sweden, either by the cession of the King of Denmark, 
or in consequence of military operations, his Majesty the 
Kiugof Sweden engages to transport his army into Ger- 
many, according to a plan of campaign to be agreed upon, 
as soon as the above object shall have been attained. 

"His Britannic majesty to be invited by both powers to 
accede to and to guarantee the stipulation contained in 
the said treaty. 

"By a subsequent convention, signed at Abo, the 30th 
of August, 1S12, the Russian auxiliary force was to be 
carried to 35,000 men." 

* All their attendants were excluded, and only Lord 
Cathcart, the British minister, permitted to be present. 
Madame la Baronne de Stael, in her " Appeal to the na- 
tions of Europe," observes, " that in the interview be- 
tween the Emperour Alexander and the Prince Royal of 
Sweden, to whom the King confided the secrets of the 
State, the two nations cast all former animosities between 
them into oblivion forever; and as the Prince Regent of 



176 

The result of this conference was highly satisfac- 
tory to both parties, and both a^^reed to make common 
cause against the measures of Napoleon; but with a 
view to the security of Sweden, it was stipulated that 
Norway should be in the first instance conquered for 
Sweden, and that afterwards a diversion by a conjoint 
force should be made on the Continent, 

The measures adopted by Sweden,* in 1812, had a 
considerable influence upon the campaign of the year, 

England had also a representative there, the unanimity 
of three such magnanimous sovereigns proclaims the deve- 
lopment of a policy contrary to the subtilty of egotism, a 
conduct full of loyalty, liberality, and of enlightened 
patriotism." 

* The following very interesting report, dated Stock- 
holm, January 7th, 1813, was addressed to the King of 
Sweden, by M. D'Engerstrom, his minister for foreign 
atlairs, on the political relations between Sweden and 
France during the last two years. — The correspondence 
between the French minister at Stockholm, and the Swe- 
dish governour, which took place on December, 1812, is 
also annexed. 
"Sire, 

"I this day execute the orders which your majesty gave 
nie, to lay before you a report on the political relations 
between Sweden and France for the last two years. 

"Nothing does more honour to a nation, than the pub- 
licity which the government gives to its diplomatic acts; 
and nothing is better calculated to consolidate harmony 
betvA'cen a monarch and his people, than a frank commu- 
nication of the secrets of policy. Every patriot will 
find in the statement which your Majesty has ordered me 
to make, a new proof of the esteem of his sovereign, foe 
his information, and his love of the country. 

The relations of Sweden with Great Britain, had not 
yet, at the end of November, 1810, assumed a character of 
open hostility. The commerce of Sweden, though limited 
in its activity, especially by the peace of Paris, was not 
yet, thanks to the moderation of the English cabinet, en- 
tirely interrupted. 
'' «'The manifestations of ill-will on the part of FraupCj 



177 

The troops assembled in Swedish ports, kept a consu 
derable enemy's force in the north of Germany, and 
by releasing Russia from its previous engagements, 



which during the course of 1810, had often threatened to 
become serious pretensions, at first appeared confined to 
the riged maintenance of the continental system in Po- 
merania; but they were at last openly directed against 
Sweden, and a demand was even made to exclude the 
Americans from our ports. Your Majesty, however, 
succeeded by perseverance and moderation in averting the 
consequences, 

"It was nevertheless to be presumed, that this fortunate 
situation, aflbrding Sweden the means of recruiting her 
strength exhausted by a destructive war, would not be of 
long duration. The Emperour Napoleon, had laid down 
for subjugated Europe a peremptory rule, that he would 
acknowledge as friends only, the enemies of Britain; that 
neutrality, formerly the bulwark of the weaker states, 
amidst the contests of the most powerful, no longer had 
any real meaning; and that all the combinations of po- 
licy, every feeling of dignity, must disappear before the 
omnipotence of arms, and an unbending will. 

"In the beginning of November, 1810, and a few days 
before the separation of the states of the realm, a dis- 
patch* arrived from the Baron de Lagerbjelke at Paris. 
It detailed a conversation which he had with the Empe- 
rour of the French; the result of which was, that your 
Majesty would have to choose between the interruption 
of your relations with Prance, and a formal declaration 
of war against England. Baron Alquier, the French 
minister at Stockholm, presented a note to the same 
effect, and demanded a categorical answer within five 
days, threatening to quit Sweden should the government 
not obey the will of his master, 

"When your Majesty at a moment so urgent, took a 
vie\y of the internal and external situation of your king- 
dom, you saw no means which could enable you to adopt 
a free decision. The continental powers then followed 
solely the impulse of France; and the season of the year 
removed ev^ry hope of being assisted by England, in the 
event of the kingdom being attacked during the course of 
the winter. The shortness of the term fixed for return- 
ing an answer, did not admit of ascertaining the senti- 

■ * Vide page J 36. 



the Swedish government set at liberty a loroe of 
18,000 men, which were assembled in Poland, and 
w hich was sent to join General Witgenstein's army, 

meiits of the neighbouring States; and the resources of 
the realm, both in money, and in the means of defence, 
were so limited, that there was no flattering prospect of 
being able to secure the integrity and independence of 
Sweden. The Prince Royal, penetrated with the neces- 
sity of saving the State, imposed silence on his affections, 
and solemnly declared, that your Majesty ought to dis- 
miss all consideration of this peculiar situation, and of 
his past connexions, and that he would execute with zeal 
and fidelity .vhatever your Majesty might enjoin for main- 
taining the honour and independence of the kingdom. 

"Your Majesty wishing to reserve for a more conve- 
nient opportunity, the efficacious resource conveyed in 
the declaration of the Prince Royal, considered it as an 
imperious duty to yield for a moment to the storm; flat- 
tering yourself, that the Emperour Napolen would not all 
at once endanger the last resources of Sweden, by rigo- 
rously exacting open hostilities with Great Britain. 

"However, scarcely was the declaration of war against 
England published, and the commerce of Sweden aban- 
doned to the discretion of the British cabinet, when the 
French minister began to develop a plan, pursued with- 
out interruption, to cause Sweden to take upon herself 
the same obligations which have brought so many misfor- 
tunes on tbe confederated States. A considerable body 
of seamen was at first demanded for the purpose of man- 
ning the French fleet at Brest — next, a corps of Swedish 
troops to be in the pay of France, the introduction into 
Sweden, of a tarift'of 50 per cent, on colonial produce — 
and, finally, the establishment of French douaniers at 
Gottenburgh. All these demands, having been rejected, 
the consequence was, that the measures of the French go- 
vernment towards Sweden soon assumed a hostile char- 
acter. 

"Shortly after his arrival, M. Alquier spoke of the 
necessity of a closer alliance between Sweden and France; 
and though he received a polite answer, this reply had no 
eftect. He then proposed an alliance betweeu Sweden, 
Denmark, and the Grand Uuchy of Warsaw, under the 
protection and guarantee of France. This proposal had 
for its object to create a confederation of the north, simir 



179 

and afterwards contributed materially to the destruc- 
tion of the French army on the Berezina: 

Early in May, 1813, the Crown Prince of Sweden 
accompanied by his only son, Prince Oscar, visited 

lar in its obligations and object to that which combined 
the strength of Germany under the French domination. — 
But your Majesty deeming it conformable neither to your 
situation nor your duties to acquiesce, the old proposal 
for a separate alliance with France was speedily re- 
newed. Though M. Alquier announced only verbally 
this desire of his master, he yet demanded an answer in 
writing, and affected to view the difficulty of obtaining it 
as a mark of indifference towards the French system on 
the part of the Swedish government. 

"Your majesty could doubtless have required, that a 
more ample, aud especially a written communication 
should be made to you, on the subject of this projected al- 
liance; and though you had reason to fear that the de- 
mands of a written ajnswer to a verbal overture, had no 
other object than that it might be shewn at St. Peters- 
burg, to prove that Sweden was wholly dependent on 
France, yet you resolved to overlook these considerations, 
and to neglect no means that might excite a regard for 
Sweden in the French Emperour. A note was, there- 
fore, sent to the Minister Alquier, in which your Majesty 
discovered a disposition to establish the most intimate re- 
lations with France, in the hope that the conditions would 
be compatible with the dignity and true interests of your 
kingdom. 

*'M. Alquier immediately declared, that this answer 
meant nothing, that it also conveyed the impression of 
your Majesty having previously determined to remain in- 
dependent of the continental system; and when, iu order 
to be able to give him a more ample reply, he was asked 
what the Emperour required of Sweden, and what that 
country could promise itself in compensation for the new 
sacrifices which might be the result of the Freneh claims,— 
that minister confined himself to the extraordinary answer^ 
'that his master required, in the first instance, deeds con- 
formable to his system; after which it was possible that 
what his Imperial Majesty was inclined to do in favour of 
Sweden, might become the subject of discussion.' 

''In the meanwhile, the season fit for navigation ar- 



180 

Stockholm. He reviewed the troops there assembled 
for embarkation, and afterwards went down the river 
to inspect the British transports, when the Britisli 



rived, and with it the capture of Swedish vessels by 
French privateers. Vour Majesty's minister at Paris de- 
manded redress for th-e injuries done to Swedish com- 
merce; representations, with the same object, were ad- 
dressed to the minister Alqiiier: his answers were im- 
pressed with all the marks of that character of dictator, 
M'hieh he had resolved to play in Sweden. 

"Your Majesty, whose firm resolution it was faithful- 
ly to fultil the engagements you had contracted, watched 
over the scrupulous observation of the orders issued 
against the commerce of England. Yet the Frpneh jour- 
nals periodically insulted the Swedish government, and 
displayed with emphasis the immensity of the Swedish 
commerce. The considerable diminution of the produce 
of the customs in 1811. attests the exaggeration and false- 
hood of these imputations. 

"If the English government viewed with a tranquil eye 
the situation of Sweden, and did not consider her declara- 
tion of war as a sufficient motive for directing hostilities 
against Swedish commerce — if this tolerant system facil- 
itated to a certain degree a vent for the immense stores of 
our native iron, and so far obviated the pernicious eftects 
of the war — your Majesty still ought not to have expect- 
ed that the French government would have built its accu- 
sations against Sweden on the forbearance of Engbxnd: 
your Majesty was, on the contrary, rather entitled to 
hope, that the French Emperour would see with satisfac- 
tion this kingdom treated with forbearance, by a power 
which had so many means of annoying Sweden. 

"In the meantime the depredations of the French pri- 
vateers on Swedish vessels were daily augmenting: your 
Majesty's minister at Paris represented in suitable terms 
the immense losses which thence resulted to the nation: 
but far from obtaining the restoration of the captured 
vessels, and the repression of such abuses for the future, 
the prize courts almost always decided in favour of the 
captors. It is true, the equity of the case appeared in 
some instances so manifest to these tribunals, that their 
decisions were favourable to the Swedes; but the French 
government, wliich reserved to itself the right of euforc- 



181 

,i?hips of war and packets manned their yards, ami 
fired a royal salute. 

After the Embarkation of the troops, the Prince 
Royal proceeded to Carlscrona, and from thence took 

ing these decisions, never confirmed one of them in 
favour of Sweden. The privateers being thus secure of 
impunity, had an open field for exercising their piracies. 
Not satisfied with condemning as good prizes, Swedish 
vessels, under the pretence that they were provided with 
English licenses, — with capturing in the Sound small 
coasting vessels, laden with provisiens, and the produce 
of our native manufactures; with seizing such as were iu 
German ports, waiting for cargoes — the Swedish seamen 
were even treated as prisoners of war; they were put in 
irons, and sent off to Antwerp and Toulon, there to serve 
in the French fleets. 

"Disagreeable and almost daily disputes had taken 
place in the course of the summer 1811, between the re- 
gency of Pomerania and the vice-consul of France, To 
preserve that province from the arrival of French troops, 
a considerable military force was there levied, on the ex- 
press demand of Napoleon, and to the great detriment of 
the country; and the most scrupulous vigilance was there 
observed with regard to the illicit commerce in colonial 
produce. In spite of such submissions, it was totally im- 
possible to satisfy the daily increasing pretensions of the 
French vice-consul. A quarrel which took place between 
the crew of a French privateer and some militia recruits, 
which it was clearly proved, the Frenchmen had com- 
menced by outraging and attacking the Pomeranian sol- 
diers, was nevertheless regarded at Paris as an iniraction 
of Peace; and it was exacted by way of reparation that 
your Majesty's soldiers should be punished with death. 

In the month of July, M. Alquier presented an official 
note, the contents and outrageous style of which called 
forth a reply, which reminded hini of the respect he owed 
to the nation, and those decencies which should be recip- 
rocal between sovereigns. Alquier had tiie presumption 
to declare that he could no longer communicate with me, 
and demanded that another individual should be appoint- 
ed to correspond with him. 

"From that moment all official communication with M. 
Alquier ceased; nevertheless the language of the Duke of 



183 

his departure for Stralsund on the 14th of May. Be-^ 
fore he left Carlscrona, the Prince Royal published the 
following farewell address to the Swedish army in the 
interiour: 

Bassaiio appeared still likely to promise some change in 
the policy of France towards Sweden. It gave his Majes- 
ty satisfaction to believe that he saw one proof of this in 
the recall of that minister — a recall which had been for- 
mally demanded; but scarcely had the season of the year 
removed the English fleet from the Baltic, when the 
French privateers renewed their acts of violence with 
more activity than ever. Your Majesty then felt himself 
under the necessity of ordering yonr marine to seize those 
pirates who had annoyed our commerce from port to port, 
and had made Swedish prizes. Many French privateers, 
which insulted our coasts, were chased: one, called the 
Mercury, was taken. 

"Your Majesty, afflicted at thus seeing your subjects 
mal-treated, and their commerce in the bosom of the 
most solemn peace, ordered a courier to proceed to Paris 
with a detailed account of all the losses which the Swed- 
ish commerce had suffered; and the demand was renewed 
of a guarantee, for the future, against the rapacity of 
privateers. The Mercury and her crew were placed at 
the disposal of the French charge d'affaires at Stock- 
holm. 

"Your Majesty's charge d'affaires at Paris, executed 
the orders he had received. The ministry of France 
gave hopes that the representations of Sweden would be 
listened to, and that the injuries of which she complain- 
ed would be examined with impartial justice. While 
your Majesty was cherishing the consoling hope of see- 
ing all grounds of difference between the two courts at 
last disappear, by a faithful and generous explanation 
from the French government, your Majesty learned, that 
at the very commencement of autumn the Prince of £ck- 
muhl, commanding the French troops in the North of 
Germany, had announced that he would cause his troops 
to enter Pomerania and the Isle of Rugen as soon as the 
ice would permit him. The instructions which the Swed- 
ish commandant had received, satisfied your Majesty that 
your troops would defend your German possessions 
against every foreign aggression. But, unfortunately, 
cunning prevailed over duly; the courage of the Swedish 



183 



The Prince RoyaU Generalissimo^ to his Brethren in 
' ^rms in the Interionr: 

"SoldiersI 
"The Kin^, in directing me to go and take the com- 
mand of his army in Pomerania, has charged me to 

troops was paralyzed by the weakness of their chief, and 
Pomerania was invaded. The events which took place 
in that province had been made public, in order that it 
might be impossible for any one to mistake the true na- 
ture of that extraordinary measure, and the friendly de- 
meanour which France affected to influence the opinion 
which must necessarily have been excited by so profligate 
an enterprize. 

<'The entrance of the French troops into Pomerania 
was immediately followed by the arrest of your Majesty's 
functionaries in that province. They were conducted to 
the prisons of Hamburg, where they were threatened 
with death. It was in vain attempted by seductive prom- 
ises to induce them to break their oaths. The last re- 
sources of the province were exhausted by enormous con- 
tributions; the vessels of yourMajesty were compelled, 
by cannon shot, to remain in the ports of Pomerania, and 
were there equipped; the public offices were occupied by 
French agents; and, finally, two Swedish regiments 
were disarmed, and sent into France as prisoners of war. 

"While these hostile proceedings took place in Pome- 
rania, the Swedish mails were seized at Hamburg, and 
secret inquisitions were made in order to discover the 
sums which Swedish subjects possessed there. Your Ma- 
jesty's charge d'affaires at Paris, deprived of all com- 
munications with Sweden, soon learned, by public re- 
port, the certainty of the entrance of the French troops 
into Pon^erania. He, in consequence, presented a note 
to the Duke of Bassano, to obtain explanations with re- 
gard to that occupation. He was asked whether he made 
this representation in pursuance of orders from his court| 
and having declared, that in a matter of so much import- 
ance he had thought it his duty to anticipate the orders 
of the King his master, the Duke of Bassano observed to 
him, that it was necessary to wait for them, before hp 
could give any explanatiort on the principal object. 



181. 

leave in Sweden two corps of the army sufficiently nu- 
merous to ensure the safety of the frontiers of the 
kingdom, and to act oftcnsively wherever the honour 

"In this state of affairs it became the first care of your 
Majesty to ascertain the disposition of the powers whose 
influence was most interesting to Sweden, and by new 
alliances to provide for future security. 

"The silence of the French cabinet continued, and 
every thing announced an approaching rupture between 
that power and liusssia. The season approached when 
the British fleets would revisit the Baltic, and there 
was reason to presume that the British ministry, in return 
fo!" the tolerance granted to fewedish commerce, would 
demand a conduct on our part more decidedly pacific. 
Your Majesty, in consequence, saw yourself at once ex- 
posed to the resentment of llie Emperour Napoleon, or 
to the hostilities of Great Britain, and to the aggressions 
of the court of Russia. Denmark had already assumed 
a menacing attitude. 

"The vessel of the State was exposed to the uncertain 
destinies of the future; treaties, weak in themselves, 
and already broken, were the guarantee of its exist- 
ence. The glorious name of the Prince Royal re-animat- 
ed the n^ti(>nal courage, and tlie Swedes recollected, 
that after having defended their liberty on their own 
shores, they had known how to pass beyond them in pur- 
suit of tiiranny. Thus the love of independence saved 
the country from the precipice from which it was about 
to be plunged. 

"Your Majesty, convinced of the danger into which 
you had been drawn by the rapid march of events, judged, 
that it was time to come to an accommodation with the 
English cabinft, and to open yourself to that of Russia, 
with a noble frankness. Your Majesty with pleasure saw 
the Marquis Wellesley, then minister for foreign affairs, 
disposed to receive your proposals, and impressed with the 
dangers, wl;i(h, at that period, impended over Europe. 
Some lime afli-r.you concluded atOrebro.a treaty of peace 
with Engliuid, advantageous to both countries; and the 
relations of amily were drawn closer with Russia, by a 
new compact, the execution of which must place Sweden 
in security tVoip all the commotious of continental poli- 
tics. 

"Your Majesty lucked upon the ignorance in which the 



185 

and interests of the country require. They will be 
commanded by Marshals Toll and Essen. Give them 
ail your confidence — you owe it to their services, their 
patriotism, and their experience. 

Emperour of the French had left Sweden, as a proof of 
his determination to drag her despotically into his conti- 
nental system, from which she found herself naturally de- 
tached by the seizure of Pomerania. Your Majesty be- 
held also a striking example in the fate which a German 
power, the friend of Sweden, had undergone, — which, 
after being long left in uncertainty, whether its offers to 
contract an alliance would be accepted, was all at once 
overwhelmed by French troops, and compelled to surren- 
der at discretion. 

*'After the annexation of the Duchy of Oldenburg to 
the French empire, it was known, with certainty, that 
differences both ou that point and on the continental sys- 
tem, had taken place between the courts of France and 
Russia; and that the preparations for war, which were 
made on both sides, would easily lead to open hostilities. 
France, however, bad still never testified the smallest 
desire, nor made any overture to your Majesty, tending 
to engage Sweden in a war with Russia. 

"Meanwhile, though all friendly relations must have 
been regarded as broken by the occupation of Pomera- 
nia, the following proposition was made, not officially, 
bat through a channel not less authentic, ou the part of 
the Emperour Napoleon. After giving a long exposition 
of the so often dwelt-upon deviations of Sweden from a 
strict observance of the continental system, which, it 
■was said, had at last compelled the Emperour to cause 
his troops to enter Pomerania, without, however, occu- 
pying it, his Majesty demanded — 

" 'That a new declaration of war should be made 
against England: that all communication with English 
cruizers should be severely prohibited: that the coasts of 
the Sound should be armed with batteries; the fleet 
equipped, and English vessels fired upon with artillery. 

" 'That, besides, Sweden should set on foot an army 
of from 30 to 410,000 men, to attack Russia at the mo- 
ment when hostilities should commence between that 
power and France. 

" 'To indemnify Sweden, the Emperour promised to 
her the resiitutiou of Finland.. 



486 

«'Iu separating from my King, my Sou, and from 
you for some time, it is not to disturb the repose of na- 
tions, but to co-operate in the great work of a general 



" 'His Imperial Majesty would also bind himself to pur- 
chase colonial produce, to the amount of 20 millions of 
francs, on condition that payment should not be made 
till the goods were landed at Dantzig or Lubetk. 

" 'Finally, his Imperial Majesty would permit Sweden 
to participate in all the rights and advantages enjoyed by 
the States of the Rhenish confederation.' 

"Your Majesty at once perceived the immense differ- 
ence which existed between the sacrifices thus demanded, 
and the indemnification which the kingdom could promise 
I itself. You could not overlook the fact, that a state of 
active warfare with Russia, the necessary consequences 
of which would be open hostilities with Britain, sur- 
passed the strength and resources of Sweden; that the 
presence of an English fleet in the Baltic would paralyze, 
during summer, the Swedish operations: and that besides, 
since the treaty with Russia, there existed no ground of 
complaint against that power; that in the mean time our 
coasts and ports would be abandoned to the vengeance of 
England; that the complete stagnation of commerce, and 
the interruption of the coasting trade, would occasion 
general misery; that the pressing wants of Sweden in re- 
spect of grain, imperiously required pacific relations, 
both with Russia and England; that the sudden termina- 
tion of war between France and Russia would infallibly 
leave Sweden without any augmentation of territory, es- 
pecially if the Swedish arm}', in consequence of the war 
with England, was prevented from leaving its own con- 
fines; and that moreover, these preparations, and a sin- 
gle year of war, would require an expenditure of from 
twelve to fifteen millions of rix-dollars. A multitude of 
other considerations determined your Majesty to look to 
nothing-'but the happiness of your subjects, and the pros- 
perity of your kingdom; and with this view your Majesr 
ty opened your ports to the flags of all nations. 

"The eftbrts of France to engage Sweden in open war 
Mith England and Russia, were not confined (o those I 
have just now mentioned. The Austrian minister at 
your Majesty's court, received by a courier from Prince 
Schwartzenburg, the Austrian ambassadour at the French 
court, the account of au alliaace concluded at Paris, ou 



187 

peace, for which Sovereigns and nations have sighed 
for so many years. 

**Soldiers! — A new career of glory, and sources of 
prosperity, are opening to our country. Treaties 

the 14th of March last, between France and that power. 
Prince Sehwartzenburg charged the minister of his court 
at Stockholm, in communicating this information to your 
Majesty's ministers, to employ ail his influence to induce 
Sweden to take part in the war against Russia. Your 
Majesty replied to this as you had done to the former pro- 
position, by declaring that you wished to preserve tlie tran- 
quility of your kingdom, and that you accepted the medi- 
ation of the Emperours of Austria and Russia, in all 
that regarded the unjust invasion of Pomerania; that 
besides, your Majesty offered, if it was agreeable to the 
Emperour Napoleon, to write to the court of Russia, to 
endeavour to prevent the effusion of blood, till Swedish, 
Russian, French, and Austrian plenipotentiaries could 
assemble, for the purpose of settling the disputes which 
had arisen. 

"Events having proved that these oflfers were not accept- 
ed by the Emperour of the French, your Majesty con- 
sidered it as a sacred duty to place your kingdom in a state 
of defence: and you employed for that purpose a portion 
of the resources which your faithful states of the realm 
had placed at your disposal, in order to cause the national 
independence to be respected and maintained. 

"The long experience of times past, and the examples 
of the present, sanctioned the measures of prudence 
which your Majesty has taken for the security and integ- 
rity of your States. 

"A note had been already addressed to M. de Cabre, 
the French charge d'Atfaires, to demand of him an ex- 
planation with regard to the seizure of Pomerania. He 
was invited to declare whether he resided at Stockholm 
as the agent of a friendly or hostile power? Many months 
having elapsed without an answer, and some dark in- 
trigues, incompatible with the law of nations, having 
taken place, M. de Cabre was dismissed. 

''At a moment when all the powers surrounding Sweden 
have increased their military force to a point hitherto 
unexampled, your Majesty has also been obliged to sub- 



188 

founded ii])on sound policy, and wliich have the tran- 
quillity of the North for their ohjcct, guarantee the 
union of the people of Scandinavia. Let us make 

mit to the imperious necessity of the times; and having 
nothing in view but the prosperity and happiness of Swe- 
den, you have prepared the means which may place it in 
a situation to depend substantially on its own force, and 
that of the governments its friends. If, to attain this ob- 
ject, some sacrifices are necessary, your good Swedish 
people will zealously second your Majesty: for they have 
always been the firm support of monarchs who respected 
their liberty. 

"Ancient habits had long induced Sweden to consider 
France as her natural ally; this opinion of times past — 
these impressions generally received, long acted pow- 
erfully on the mind of your Majesty; farther fortified by 
the regard of the Prince Royal towards his former coun- 
try — a regard, however, always subordinate in his heart 
to his duties towards Sweden, that when France wished 
to interdict peninsular Sweden from traversing the seas 
which almost surround her and to deprive her of the right 
of ploughing the waves which wash her shores, it be- 
came the duty of government to defend the rights and in- 
terests of the nation — to escape the situation of those pow- 
ers, which, by their submission to France, find them- 
selves without ships, without commerce, and without 
finances. The alliance of France, while it exacts in the 
first instance the loss of independence, conducts by de- 
grees to all sacrifices which annihilate the prosperity of 
a State. In order to become her ally, it is necessary to 
have no connextion with England, and to make good 
the loss of the revenues of customs, and of the profits of 
commerce, by imposts always increasing, for the purpose 
of supporting the wars into which her capricious politics 
have drawn her during the last eight years. Had Sweden 
submitted to the wishes of France, then Swedes would 
have been seen in Spain, in like manner as we now see 
there Germans, Italians, and Poles. They would have 
been seen even in Turkey, had Napoleon conquered the 
Kmperour Alexander. 

♦'If, to secure the destinies of Sweden, by procuring 
for it safety for the present, and security for the future, 
your Majesty is compelled to put your armies in motion^ 
It will not be with a view of conquering provincies unless 



189 

ourselves worthy of the splendid destiny that is pro- 
mised us; and let not the people who stretch out their 
arms to us, have ever cause to repent their confidence. 

to the prosperity of the Scandinavian peninsula. The in- 
dependence of that peninsula is the constant object of 
your Majesty's cares; and no sacrifice must be reckoned 
too costly by the Swedes to attain that great and impor- 
tant result. Your Majesty has rejected the degrading 
treaty which it was wished to make you subscribe; you 
have placed yourself above a subservient and versatile 
policy; and you have not feared to make your appeal on 
the question to the courage, the loyalty, the patriotism, 
and the honour of the nation. Your Majesty has formed 
a just opinion of the Swedes, and your reward is in the 
unbounded confidence which they have placed in your wis- 
dom. 

''The vessel of the state, navigating a stormy sea, and 
assailed by the tempest, was long in danger of shipwreck; 
your Majesty took the helm, and seconded by your son, 
you have had the happiness, in spite of the shoals with 
which her route was interspersed, to bring her into port. 
I present this sketch in order to enlighten those persons, 
who, always uneasy with regard to their future fate, 
feel alarmed at the slightest adverse occurrence, and 
imagine that they have reached land only to enjoy in peace 
all the conveniencies of life. Your Majesty has promised 
liberty to the Swedes; you will keep your word. The 
450ttage of the poor, as well as the palace of the rich shall 
enjoy that inestimable blessing. Arbitrary authority, 
can never penetrate thither; and by night as well as by 
day, the law shall guard all its approaches. Proud of 
their rights, united to their Sovereign; the Swedes will 
march to meet their enemies. The recollection of their 
illustrious ancestors, and the jiistice of their cause, shall 
be pledges of their success. I am, with the most profound 
respect, 

(Signed) Lawrence Engerstrom. 
Stockholm^ Jan. 7, 1813." 

JSTotefrom Baron D^Engerstrom to M. de Cabre, Charge 
d^ Affaires, from France at Stockholm, dated Decem- 
ber 20, 1812. 

"From the moment in which the invasion of Swedish 
Pomerania bv the French troops, contrary to the faith 

26 



190 

"Soltliers! — Our ancestors distinguished themselves 
by their bold daring, and their steady courage. Let 
us unite to these warlike virtues the enthusiasm of 
military honour, and God will protect our arms. 

"Charles Johx. 

*^M Carhcrona, May 8, 1813.'* 

of treaties, and the most solemn engagements, made 
known the full extent of his Majesty the Emperour Na- 
poleon's intention with respect to Sweden, the King, 
justly astonished at this unexpected aggression, did but 
reiterate his requests to obtain a free and loyal explana- 
tion from him, whilst the French government only re- 
plied to them by fresh acts of hostility, his Majesty be- 
lieved, that if force gives rights, as the misfortune of 
our times sufficiently attest, the cause of justice, and 
the sentiments of bis own dignity, might also demand 
some of them. 

"He has not thus seen with indifference, one of hi^ 
provinces occupied by the same power which had guar- 
anteed the integrity of it; the troops which the Ring had 
left there declared prisoners of war, and as such carried 
to France; as well as the continual depredations of French 
privateers against Swedish commerce. 

"His Majesty, in consequence, charged M. de Berg- 
stedt, in the month of August last, and particularly the 
undersigned, to officially address M. de Cabre; at first to 
demand the reasons which had caused the said hostilities; 
and lastly, to declare to him, that as his court, after a 
long delay, would not explain on this head, and likewise 
gave it to be understood, that it would not return to a 
more pacific system with respect to Sweden, M de Cabre 
could no longer be regarded as the agent of a friendly 
power; and that his diplomatic relations with the King's 
ministers would cease till the time that the explanations 
demanded of the cabinet of the Thuilleries should be re- 
ceived. 

"More than three months have elapsed since that 
epoch, and the French government continuing always the 
same silence, the King has thought it due to himself and 
to his people, not to depend upon an explanation which, 
besides, so many actions appear to render illusory. 

"Upon these considerations, and upon others at least 
as important, the undersigned has received the orders of 



191 . , 

On the 17th of May the Prince Royal landed at 
Monasgut, near Perth, and passed the night at the cas- 
tle of Puthus: the next day he arrived at Stralsund, 

the King his master, to declare to M. de Cabre, that his 
presence here becoming absolutely useless under actual 
circumstances, he desires you should quit Sweden as soon 
as possible; and the undersigned has tbe honour of seud» 
ing you inclosed, the necessary passports for your journey. 
The undersigned has the honour, &c. 
(Signed) '*Baron D'Engerstrom." 

Copy of a Letter from M. de Cabre, Charge d? Affaires 

from his Majesty the Emperour of the French, King 

of Italy, at the court of Stockholm, to his Excellency 

the Baron d'Engerstrom, chief minister of state to his 

Sivedish Majesty, dated Stockholm, December 21, ISIS. 

•'The undersigned Charge d'Aftaires to his Majesty 

the Emperour of the French, King of Italy, has received 

the official note, which his Excellency M. the Baron 

D'Engerstrom addressed to him yesterday, the 20th of 

December, in which it is stated iu substance — • 

'' 'That his Swedish Majesty having in vain awaited 
an explanation relative to the entrance of the French into 
Pomerania, relative to the removal of the King's officers 
to Madgeburg, and the capture of Swedish ships by 
French eruizers, his Majesty has ordered his minister of 
state and of foreign affairs to declare to the undersigned, 
that, his presence at Stockholm being altogether useless, 
his Majesty desires that the undersigned shall quit Swe- 
den as soon as possible, and that he should, at the same 
time, be furnished with the passports necessary for his 
voyage.' 

"The undersigned conceives it unnecessary to dwell 
upon the imputation in the said official note, insinuating 
that his Majesty the Emperour and King had acted con- 
trary to the faith of treaties. It would be easy for the un- 
dersigned to refute this charge by recalling the conditions 
of the treaty concluded at Paris on the 6th of January; 
and proving by facts that Sweden has not fulfilled in any 
one point the obligations imposed by her engagements in 
that instrument, although France has shewn the most 
zealous desire to restore to her that same Pomerania 
which had been conquered by the imperial and royal 
arms in the last war. 



and was met by the generals and members of the go- 
vernment on the Fahrbrucke, whence he proceeded, 
under the thunder of cannon, the ringing of bells, and 
amid the joyful acclamations of the populace, to the 
palace of government. He was accompanied by the 
Field Marshal Baron Von Stedengk, and the Count 

*»The undersigned has to observe, that it has never, 
either verbally or by writing, been notified to him, that 
his diplomatic relations would be suspended, until he had 
given a categorical answer to the explanations demanded 
of him by the Swedish ministry. His Excellency the 
minister of state and of foreign aft'airs, in his letter of 
the 7th of September last, addressed to the Charge d'Af- 
faircs of France, limits himself to demanding of the un- 
dersigned, 'Whether he is in Sweden as the agent of a 
friendly or hostile power?' — declaring at the same time 
to the undersigned, that his continuance in the States of 
his Swedish Majesty depends on the answer which he 
shall find himself prepared to give to this question. 
'' <'With respect to the principal object of the official note 
from his Excellency the miniser of state and of foreign 
aS'airs, the undersigned will not lose a moment to bring it 
under the cognizance of his court; but it depends not 
upon him to obey the desire of his Swedish Majesty. 
On the contrary it is his duty to declare, that he will never 
consent to abandon the post which the Emperour and 
King, his august master, lias deigned to contide to him, 
before he shall have obtained his Imperial and Royal 
Majesty's orders to that effect. 

'•But if his Swedish Majesty, in virtue of his sovereign 
rights, will cause it to be signified to the undersigned, offi- 
daily and in u-ritivg, that he will no longer permit his 
residence in Sweden, the undersigned conceiving, that 
under these cicumstances he will only be yielding to force, 
will not hesitate to avail himself, wilh the shortest jios- 
sible delay, of the passport, which he has now the honour 
to send back herewith to his Excellency M. the Baron 
d'Engcrstrom. minister of state and of foriegu afi'airs; be- 
cause, till the existence of the circumstances which he has 
specified, it will be impossible for him to make use of it, 
and therefore to no purpose to keep it. 

"The undersigned has the honour to be, &c. 

"Aug. de Cabke." 



i 



193 

ChaHcelloi* Wetterstedt. The Prince immediately af- 
tet his arrival inspected the new fortifications. 

Some deputies of the nobility at Rugen having 
waited on the Prince Royal, they were received in the 

Copy of a Letter from his Excellency M. Baron dPEnger^ 
Strom, to M. de Cabre, dated Stockholm, Becember, 33, 
1812. 

*'I have received the letter, sir, which you have done 
me the honour to address me, under date of the 21st of 
this month, and having, in the course of my official duty, 
laid it before the King, his Majesty charges me again to 
repeat to you, that your presence at Stockholm cannot be 
tolerated any longer. Your diplomatic character having 
now ceased, you will find yourself, sir, in the situation of 
all ordinary foreigners; and, consequently, subject to the 
execution of all orders which the police may find it neces- 
sary to give respecting you. The chief governour of that 
department, to whom reports, very little to your advan- 
tage, have been made respecting you, has received orders 
to make you quit the capital within four and twenty 
hours. A commissary of police will accompany you to 
the frontier; and by these means you will not have any 
further occasion for the passports which you have sent 
back to me. 

(Signed) "Baron d'EFGERSTROMT. 

Copy of a Letter from M. de Cabre. to his Excellency the 

Baron d'' Engerstrom, Sfc. dated Stockholm, December 

23, 1812. 

«I have just this moment received the letter which you 
have this day written to me, in which your Excellency, 
announcing to me for the first time, 'that my diplomatic 
functions have ceased,' informs me at the same time, 
' 'that I become subject to the orders of the police, and that 
the governour has received instructions to cause me to be 
conducted to the frontier.' 

''This determination of the Swedish government, and 
the manner in which it is communicated to me, appear to 
me more than sufficient to justify me in the eyes of my 
court, for abandoniug the post which I have filled with 
honour for more than a year at the court of his Majesty 
the King of Sweden. I request, in consequence, that 



194r 

most flattering manner; and in his address to them he 
made the following observation: *<You have suQered 
much, but if Sweden does not fall in this contest^ 
every thing shall be made good to you." 

Considerable blame has been given to the Prince 
Royal of Sweden by many persons in this country, for 
not having prevented Hamburg, in May, 1813, from 
falling into the power of the French: a review, there- 
fore, of the operations of the Swedes in this quarter 
becomes necessary. 

A Swedish force of 3000 men was stationed near 
Hamburg till the 21st of May, 1813, when it was di- 
rected by the Prince Royal to fall back, and the com- 
manding officer ordered to repair to Stralsund, to be 
brought before a military court, for having made an 
application of his troops, tiiat had never entered into 
the plan of the Prince Royal, and without his sanction 
or instruction. 

The Swedes, in consequence of this order, retired, 
notwithstanding Count Walmoden made the most pres- 
sing representations, urging their remaining for an- 
other forty-eight hours. 



your Excellendy will send me back my passports, of which 
I intend to avail myself with the least possible delay.*' 



"In consequence of the answer of M. de Cabre to the 
last letter of his Excellency the Baron d'Engerstrom, the 
passports were returned to M. de Cabre, and the com- 
missary of police was itot sent with bim. M. de Cabre 
was indulged, by his special request, with permission to 
remain three days longer at Stockholm, when he departed 
for France on the 27th December. 



19& 

The motives* of the Prince Royal are allowed by 
officers of distinguished talents to rest upon good mili- 
tary principles. 

To induce Sweden to take an active part in the 
operations on the Continent, the allies had engaged to 
grant the following number of troops; Russia, 36,000; 
Prussia, 16,000. 

The troops which were organizing in the north of 
Germany, under the protection and at the expense of 
England, were, together with those from the two for- 
mer powers, to be placed at the sole disposal of the 
Prince Royal, thereby giving him an army of 90,000 
men, including his Swedish troops. 

The utmost force of Swedes to be brought into co- 
operation with the allies in Germany, was not to ex- 
ceed 30,000; and of these a proportion would neces- 
sarily remain at Stralsund, where an entrenched camp 
was preparing for 16,000 men; but a part of the Swe- 
dish force had not at this time arrived, and the Prince 
Royal had not received any of the expected reinforce- 
ments of Russians and Prussians. He could therefore 
have only detached a small force to the Elbe, which 
being exposed to the joint attacks of the French and 
Danes, might have been cut off; for it must be ob- 
served, that at tliis period the main armies of the al- 
lies were retiring from the Saale and the Elbe, and 
that the whole course of the Lower Elbe, from 
Magdeburg to Hamburg, was only partially guarded 



* I have already reviewed this husjness in my "Northern Campaigns," and have 
had no reason to change my sentiments: on the contrary, they are supported by the 
approbation of several officers who were engaged in the operations that took place on 
the Continent at the time. 



196 

hj small detacbments, and therefore might be easily 
crossed at any point by a superiour French force, but 
which certainly would not have been the case, if the 
twenty-eight gun boats which were laying at Gotten- 
burg, at the time (the 19th of May) the Danes with- 
drew tlieirs from Hamburg, had been in the Elbe. 
At all events, tliese gun boats might have contributed 
essentially to the defence of Hamburg, and the pas- 
sages in its immediate vicinity, if their co-operation 
could not have secured the river in its course far up- 
w ards. 

By attempting to defend Hamburg under these cir- 
cumstances, the Prince Royal would have risked the 
destruction of his army in detail, as all support from 
his allies was remote and uncertain. 

The importance of preserving Hamburg on princi- 
ples of humanity and general policy, it must be sup- 
posed, could not be less obvious to, or less felt by the 
Prince Royal of Sweden, than by the other powers; 
and therefore, the only motives for his not attempting 
it must have resulted from military considerations; 
and there is not any military man who would not 
object to throwing in a corps of troops into a large 
town unfortified, placed in a cul de sac, of which the 
chief protection, a river, had become null from the 
moment that a new enemy had started up, who com- 
manded the right bank. 

Moreover, it would appear that at this periad the 
Prince Royal was left much in the dark as to the 
plans and intentions of the Russians and Prussians. 
He had already been disappointed of the promised 
support. Their inadequate exertions, their retrogcide 



197 

motions, and the experience of their conduct in former 
contests, j^ave him reason to apprehend an armistice, 
which might be succeeded by a peace, leavinj^ him to 
shift for himself, and therefore he would not have been 
justified in committing beyond the reach of support or 
the power of retreat, the whole of the disposable mili- 
tary force of Sweden, or to risk the destruction of 
a part when its only security might have rested ou 
its being kejit together at Stralsund. 

So little had the Prince Royal been consulted or 
communicated with at this period, that when a project 
was formed by the Baron de Stein, under the sanction 
of the Emperour of Russia and King of Prussia, for 
an arrangement of the North of Germany, the first 
intimation which his Royal Highness received of it, 
was in a letter from M. Alopeus, acquainting him that 
he, M. Alopeus, had been appointed governour of the 
North of Germany, and desired him to send a corps 
to the assistance of Hamburg. At this period the al- 
lies occupied nothing on the left bank of the Elbe, 
therefore the government given to M, Alopeus was 
formed in great part by Swedish Poraerania. 

No other military operation of importance was un- 
dertaken by the Prince Royal before the armistice 
signed and ratified on the 4th June, 1813. 



The Emperour of Russia and King of Prussia hav- 
ing determined on not adopting any steps but such as 
met the entire concurrence of the Prince Royal of 

27 



i98 

Sweden, his Royal Highness set out to meet those il- 
lustrious personages. 

In his route to the head-quarters of the allies, the 
Prince Royal reviewed a number of Russian and other 
corps destined to act under his command, and was 
every where received with demonstrations of the 
warmest attachment and most sincere respect. On 
the 6th of July, the Prince Royal reached Prentzlau, 
where his Royal Highness was received, on the part 
of his Prussian Majesty, by the Prince of Sayn Wit- 
genstein. He was afterwards waited upon by the ma- 
gistrates and clergy, and welcomed in a speech from 
a member of the church. On mentioning the first 
appearance of the Prince Royal in Prentzlau, seven 
years ago, his Royal Highness exclaimed, "An un- 
happy time for your town; happily it is past and may 
it never return." On expressing tlie flattering hopes 
they entertained, the Prince said, *«The sole motive 
that inspires me will always be to contribute with what 
small means I possess to the preservation of your 
country's independence;" and at the conclusion, he 
observed, ^'1 have as yet done nothing to attract your 
attention to me, but I will endeavour to deserve it by 
my zeal for the welfare of your country." 

On the 7th, the journey was continued by the way 
of Konigsberg, and his Royal Highness was received 
by General Count Tauenzeen, at Landsbcrg, on the ri- 
ver Wartha. On the 8th, his Royal Highness tra- 
velled by the way of Nussert to Rostein; and on the 
9th, through Lisser, where the Russian General, Ba- 
ron Winzingerode, had his head-quartci-s, forward to 
Traclienberg. 



199 

On the road between the Ucker and Neermarkt, his 
iRoyal Highness reviewed several battalions of the 
Russian militia, and at Schwedt he likewise reviewed 
a regiment of hussars belonging to the German legion, 
to be also placed under his command. Wherever he 
came troops paradedj the towns through which he pas;. 
eed were in the evening illuminated, and every thing 
shewed the sincere joy of the inhabitants at his Royal 
Highnesses journey. Between Landsberg and Tra- 
chenberg, his Royal Highness was escorted by a de- 
tachment of the Elizabethgorod hussars, and of Gene?, 
ral lUwasky's Don Cossacks. 

Immediately on his Royal Highness's arrival, he 
was received by their Majesties the Emperour of 
Russia and King of Prussia; after which a conference 
took place, at which Lord Cathcart and Mr. Thorn- 
ton were present on the part of Great Britain. 



The armistice agreed upon by the allied powers 
with Buonaparte, through the interposition of the 
Emperour of Austria, signed on the 2d June, 1813, 
and which was to have terminated on the 20th of July, 
was prolonged by convention to the 17th of August.-— 
The city of Prague was fixed upon for the meeting of 
a congress, and the 5th of July for the day of it» 
opening. 

In the mean time, the most vigorous measures 
were pursued by all parties to strengthen their forces 
and to enable them to carry on an active and extraor= 



soo 

dinary campaign, if peace should not be determined 
upon at tlie expiration of the armistice. In every 
province of Prussia, and in the districts of the North 
of Germany, exeitions were made to set on foot a 
most powerful and well-equipped force. The Empe- 
rour of Austria, who had been reluctantly compelled 
to afibrd aid to Buonaparte in his invasion of Russia, 
now employed every means to acquire a well-disci- 
plined and numerous army. In short, the object of 
each continental state seemed directed to one point, 
viz. the ohtainment of a strong and efficient number of 
troops. 

Buonaparte interposed every species of delay in the 
negotiation, both by disputes upon matters of form, 
and complaints relative to the character "of the per- 
sons sent to the congress, &c. and there appealing no 
prospect of his acceding to the required terms, the ar- 
mistice was denounced, and the Emperour of Austria 
issued a declaration of war and joined his arms to the 
cause of Europe. This cause was also to have both 
the bodily and mental assistance of a man distinguished 
as one of the greatest soldiers of modern times. 

General ^loreau having acceded to the wishes of the 
Emperour Alexander, that he should give his aid to the 
allied powers, expressed through his Majesty's minis- 
ter at riiiladelphia, the latter applied to the British 
admiral, Cockburn, for a licence for an American ship 
to go to Europe, and it was allowed by the British 
and American governments to carry out and return 
with a cargo, on condition of taking General Morcau 
and his suite as passengers. On the sJlst of June, 
therefore, General Morcau embarked at Hurl-Gate, on 
board the Hannibal, 500 tons burthen, and sailed from 



America. He landed at Gotteiiburg the 26th of 
July, and on the Mh of August he again embarked at 
¥stadt in a Swedish brig of war for Stralsund. The 
Prince Royal of Sweden, then at Berlin, set oiFto give 
his early friend a meeting, and to concert with him a 
plan of military operations. It was determined by 
these two experienced officers, to organize a separate 
corps d'armee, to be principally composed of French 
prisoners, and called Moreau's Legion. This body 
was to be decorated with the white or national cock- 
ade, to bear the motto pro patria, to fight for the deli- 
verance of Europe, and in particular for the emanci- 
pation of Frenchmen. A part of the jjlan agreed 
upon was, that Generj^;^ Willot, who was expected 
in England from America, together with General 
Rewbel, (the Commander-in-chief of the Westphalian 
army, at the time of the escape of the Duke of Bruns- 
wick, and who was disgraced by Buonaparte on ac- 
count of that event,) were to organize such of the 
French prisoners as they could raise in this country, 
and to have disembarked with thena in the North of 
Jrance.* 

1* "The eventful years that had passed since the departure of General Moreau from 
the land of his nativity, the success of his imperial rival, and the changes eSectei in 
the politics of Europe, were alike unable to obliterate from the minds of men the 
services or the just renown of General Moreau; his reputation was permanent, 
because it was founded on the qualities of the heart; and his military character was 
unimpaired, because it was solid. His health was drank at Dresden by the officers in 
the service of Napoleon, and, but for the interference of General Berthier, they 
would iiave paid for their enthusiasm with their lives. Five officers in the service of 
Buonaparte deserted to General Moreau from Dantzig; and had he been spared to his 
country, there is no doubt that he would have been joined by many valuable French 
efficers> 

"The battle of Dresden and the plan of the campaign were areanged and advised 
by General Moreau and the Prince Royal of Sweden: they are, no doubt, some of the 
grandest ideas that they had ever projected. General Moreau was in earnest conver- 
sation with the Emperour Alexander, in the midst of the battle of Dresden, and in 
the act of giving his opinion on some military movements, while passing with the 
Emperour behind a Prussian battery, to which two French batteries were answering, 
pne in front, and the other in flankj and the British minister, Lord Cathcait.and 



203 

Majo^generaJ Sir Robert Wilson were listening to him,\^en a ball struck hif thigh, 
and almost carried his leg off, passing through his horse, and carried aMa; the calf of 
bis otlier leg. He uttered a deep groao, but immediately after the first agony of pain 
■was over, spoke with the utmost tranquility, and perceiving the oiBcers around him 
in the greatest distress, he observed, "Soyez tranguilles, inessieurs, c'est mon tort^ 
and leaning on Colonel Rapatel, who supported him in bis arms, he observed, though 
I am lost, to die in so good a cause, and io the presence of the Emperour Alexander, 
is sweet." 

•It has been observed, that in addition to the entire confidence of all the legitimate 
sovereigns in Europe, which General Moreau enjoyed at the time of his &te, Louis 
Xvni had given him unlimited powers, with respect to France, pledging his word 
that he would take no measures either of internal or external police, without coi> 
suiting him. On hearing of bis death, that prince exclaimed, 'I have lost my crown 
a second time!' (J^ai perdu 7iia couronne une seconde fois.) At the suggestion of the 
Prince of Conde, he intended to give General Moreau th^^ank of Constable of 
France, tlie highest situation tmder the old monarchy, and the French blue ribband." 
Vide the Author's Memoirs of General Moreau. 



S03 



Notwithstanding the extraordinary and continual 
losses experienced by Buonaparte from the commence- 
ment of the campaign in Russia, he was, at the expi- 
ration of the armistice, at the head of an array more 
numerous than any that he had before commanded. 
The force under his own immediate command amount- 
ed to 300,000 men. In addition to this force, Mar- 
shal Davoust commanded a strong corps, with which 
Hoist ein and Hamburg were defended, and Pomera- 
nia threatened. Buonaparte's position was a semi- 
circle round Lusatia, of which Dresden was the cen- 
tre, and the Lower Elbe the base. His forces were 
closely concentrated, and prepared to make a grand 
attack on the divided armies of the allies. 

The positions occupied by the allies, were, in a mil- 
itary point of view, less advantageous than those of 
Napoleon; their strength was divided into three corps, 
each acting at a distance from the other, and possess- 
ing but imperfect communications. 

In addition to the accumulated strength acquired by 
the accession of Austria to the cause of Eliirope, the 
allies likewise obtained the advantage of turning the 
barrier of the Elbe, (great part of that river flowing 
through Bohemia) where they might have passed un- 
opposed. The grand army, consisting of the whole 
Austrian force and considerable Russian and Prussian 
detachments from Silesia, therefore, took up its posi- 
tion in Bohemia, with its head quarters at Toplitz, 
whence they could threaten Saxony and the rear of 
the French army. In Silesia, Marshal Blucher com- 



804< 

niandcd a force amounting to 100,000 men; it was 
composed of the remains of the Russian and Prussian 
regulars, and of a large hody of well-organized mili- 
tia. 

The Prince Royal had his head-quarters at Berlin, 
and commanded a force styled the army of the North 
of Germany:* it was composed of the whole Swedish 
army, large corps of Russian and Prussian regulars, 
the militia of Brandenburg, and the troops levied from 
the Hanse Towns, &c. This army amounted to 
120,000 men: on one side it covered Berlin, and was 
prepared to act as affairs might demand against Buo- 
naparte's grand army: on the other side it watched the 
movements of Marshal Davoust and the garrison of 
Magdeburg. 

» It is cliiefly to the operations of this aiTOy that the subsequent pages will be 
devoted, and 1 shall content rayself with a brief sketch of the movements of the rest of 
the allies, as it would be irrelevant to introduce in tlie Memoirs of the Prince Roya} 
of Sweden a detail of the campaign of the corps under Marshal Blucher and Prince 
Zchwartzenberg. In my account of the Campaign from the termination of the arraie. 
tjce, which I shall give to the Public shortly after the appearance of these Memoir^ 
and which will form a continuance to my work, entitled the ''Northern Cainpaigoi 
of 1812 and 1813," the movements of each corps will be distinctly reviewed— In the 
"Northern Campaigns," I have given a detail of the militaiy events on the continent 
of Europe from the commencement of the war between France and Russia, in 1812 
To the period of the armistice in 1813.— Various foreign State papers, of great and 
general interest; every important circumstance, political and militanj, connected with 
this great contest; a review of the conduct and principles that influence the members 
of a society established on the continent, under the title of the Tugent Bund or Tugent 
Fereind (the united in virtue;) the proclamations and manifestoes issued by the seve- 
ral chiefs engaged in the struggle; anecdotes relating to Buonaparte and his army 
during the retreat from Moscow, communicated by officers serving in the allied 
armies; tlie tieaties of alliance, offensive and defensive, entered into between the dif. 
ferent powers; topographical notes; and an Appendix, containing all the bulletins of 
Buonapaite published previous to the armistice. 

The account of the Campaign from the termiiiBtion of the amustice, will be pub- 
Hthed on a similar plan to the above* 



''iflbMilMlii|MMriii#Mtj««9»«^^ 



205 



The following is the first bulletin ot the Prince 
Royal of Sweden from which will be seen the positions 
of the allied army under his command, on the 13th 
August, three days after the termination of the ar- 
mistice. 

The Prince Royal's bulletins are admirably compos- 
ed, and furnish almost a perfect view of the Consist- 
ency of his different movements, and the comprehen- 
siveness of his plans. I shall, therefore, give them in 
their order, with occasional remarks and notes, as 
such shall appear necessary. From these interesting 
documents the reader will perceive the interest enter- 
tained by the Prince Royal of Sweden to lead the sub- 
jects of that nation to victory in the field, which he 
naturally hopes hereafter to govern in peace and happi- 
ness at home. The Prince and people will thus be- 
come mutually endeared to each other, by the pleasing 
recollection of common glory achieved, common dan- 
gers encountered, and common sufferings endured. In 
the language of that estimable writer, Madame la 
Baronne de Stael Holstein, the Swedish nation has 
chosen the best means of repairing adverse times, 
by calling a Prince to the throne, in whom admiration 
is blended with homage due to the sovereign. *'In 
this election we behold," observes the Baroness, "the 
dawn of a glorious day, and prosperity to Sweden. 
Valour, and the genius of an experienced warriour, 
are the indisputable qualifications for a chief of an 
empire tottering from amidst the shocks that have en- 
gulphed so many other nations, because their Princes 
knew not how to conduct their own subjects to tlie 



206 

field of battle. During long and bloody wars, mati^ 
generals have acquired the reputation of being fear- 
less of danger; but it is rare indeed to have been with- 
out reproach in an epoch of civil commotions. The 
Prince Royal of Sweden has carried chivalry in re* 
piiblicanism as well as in royalty: France is indebted 
to him for having defended her in the most critical pe- 
riods, long before its present Ruler was in question^ 
and who has subsequently, by a thousand artifices, ca- 
parisoned himself with military glory."* 



'•^riRST BULLETIN. 

'^'Head-quarters at Oranienhurg, *9tig, 13, 1813. 

**His Royal Highness the Crown Prince arrived 
here yesterday, and has fixed his head-quarters at this 
place. 

<*The united army of Northern Germany, of which 
liis Royal Highness has the command, occupies the 
following positions: — 

«A part of the 4tli Prussian corps d'armee, which 
forms the reserve, under the command of Lieutenant 
General Count Tauenzeen, has its head-quarters at 
Munchenberg, and stretches its right wing towards 
Berlin. The 4th Prussian corps d'armee, under Lieu- 
ten ant-General Von Bulow, has its head-quarters at 
Berlin, and, in conjunction with Count Tauenzeeii's, 
corps, forms the left wing of the allied army. 



• Vide "An Appeal to the Nations of Europe against the continental system, by 
Madame la Baronne de StaelHolstein."— Richardson, Loudon, 1813. 



§07 

«The Swedish army, commanded by Field Marshal 
Count Von Stedingk, is assembling in the vicinity of 
Oranienburg, with its head near Spandau. The head- 
quarters are here. Tlie first Swedish division is 
under the command of Lieutenant-General Skiolde- 
brand, and the second under that of Major-General 
Baron Posse. This last division, together with a se- 
parate brigade detached from the third division, forms 
a corps, commanded by Lieutenant-General Baron 
Sandils. The whole Swedish force is in the centre of 
the allied army. The right wing consists of Russian 
troops, under the orders of Lieutenant-General Baron 
"Winzingerode, whose head-quarters are at Branden-? 
burg. Lieutenant-General Count Woronzoff's corps 
belongs to this wing, with its head-quarters at Plan. 

^«A Prussian corps, under Major-General Herseh- 
feldt, is in front of Magdeburg. 

«It is connected by its left wing with the Russian 
army, and by its right with the corps of observation 
on the Lower Elbe, under Lieutenant-General Count 
Wallmoden, Its head-quarters are at Schwerin, and 
its advanced posts reach from Leuzin to Dassau, and 
the middle towards Lubeck. Lieutenant-General Ba= 
ron Von Vegesack belongs to this corps d'armee; he 
has under his command 3000 Swedish troops, 3000 
Prussians, and 3000 Mecklenburgers. 

"Separate corps, belonging to Count Tauenzeen's 
army, blockade Custrin and Stettin. 

*^Major-General Gibbs has landed at Stralsund, 
with a corps of 3000 English troops. 



"General Baron Aldreuitz is at the head of the gen- 
eral staff of the united army of the North of Genna- 
iiy, and has under him the Major-General Baron 
Tarvast, and Count Gustav Lowintejeln, as Adjutant^ 
General, to receive and forward orders. 

"The army is so disposed, that within a march and 
3, hajf, upwards of eighty thousand men can he in the 
line. 

"Whilst his Royal Highness, on the 11th inst. in the 
forenoon, was reviewing the troops which are block- 
ading Stettin, and causing them to manoeuvre, and at 
the same time to threaten the fortress works, a howit- 
zer was pointed at his Royal Highness; the grenade 
fell thirty paces behind him, and burst. His Roj'al 
Highness, who discovered some French soldiers-creep- 
ing forwards before the outer works, and whom the 
Cossacks, after the shot having taking place from the 
fortress, were on the point of attacking, caused the 
French commandant to be called to him, and who ac- 
cordingly appeared before his Royal Highness, accom- 
panied by a commissary at war. The Prince Royal 
mildly stated to him, that the commanding officer in 
fort Prussia had broken the truce, and fired on his 
Royal Highness's escort, and added, I might make 
you all prisoners of war, were I to command the ca- 
valry to attack you, and you could not defend your- 
selves, being without arms. The officer made excuses, 
and expressed his sorrow for the accident. After his 
Royal Highness had conversed with him for a §l>ort 
time, lie retired. The French soldiers expressed their 
lieai'ty wishes for the restoration of peace, and to see 
an end put to the calamities of war. 



g09 

««To judge from the preparations of the allies at 
Stettin, it is to be expected that the fortress will be 
stormed on the conclusion of the armistice. By the 
zeal and industry of those officers who have the charge 
of supplying the army with provisions, it has not as 
yet suffered any deficiency. The number of sick is 
very trifling.'^ 



Three days after the publication of the above» 
the head-quarters of the Prince Royal were removed, 
and his Royal Highness issued the annexed bulletin 
and address to the army. The latter of these articles 
is undoubtedly a master-piece of political wisdom, and 
it went further in the estimation of all reasonable men 
in confirming their hopes of success to the cause of Eu- 
rope, from the exertions of the Prince Royal, than 
any document he had published, or step he had taken, 
till that time. In this address, the Prinee Royal ob- 
serves, with a happiness of illustration which every 
one must allow as just, that the same sentiment which 
prompted the French in 1792, to assemble and combat 
the armies which entered their territory, must now 
animate their opponents in the defence of their native 
land, their wives and their children. The territories 
of all have been either invaded or threatened with in- 
vasion; the independence of all has been menaced or 
subverted, and it could not but incite the combined 
army of Northern Germany to deeds of distinguished 
heroism, when tbey reflect that they were fighting for 
the liberty of all Europe, and the peace of the whole 
world. 



«>SECO]SrD BUILETlir. 

^'Head-quarters, Fotadanif Aug. 16, 1813. 

««The Prince Royal removed his liead-quartei-s to 
this city last night. 

<«The army is concentrating. 

«At the expiration of unavailing negotiations en- 
tered upon at Prague, the armistice was denounced on 
the 10th by the allies, so that hostilities may be re- 
newed to-morrow. On the 11th, at one in the morn- 
ing, Count Metternich delivered to the Count de Nar- 
bonnee, at Prague, the declaration of war by Austria 
against France. 

<'His Royal Highness has just addressed to the com- 
bined army under his orders, the following procla- 
mation:— 



"COMBINED ARMY OF THE NORTH OF GERMANY. 

<«T/tc Pnnce Royal, Generalissimo — to the Army, 

«Soldiers! — Called by the confidence of my King 
and of the Sovereigns his allies, to lead you in the ca- 
reer which is about to open, I rely for the success of 
our arms on the Divine protection, the justice of our 
cause, and on your valour and perseverance. 

"Had it not been for the extraordinary concurrence 
of events which have given to the last twelve years a 
dreadful celebrity, you would not have been assembled 



211 

on the soil of Germany; but your Sovereigns have 
felt that Europe is a great family, and that none of the 
States of which it is composed can remain indiiferent 
to the evils imposed upon any one of its members by a 
conquering power. They are also convinced that 
when such a power threatens to attack and subjugate 
every other, there ought to exist only one will among 
those nations that are determined to escape from 
shame and slavery. 

«From that moment you were called from the banks 
of the Wola and the Don, from the shores of Britain, 
and the mountains of the North, to unite with the 
German warriours who defend the cause of Europe, 

*<This, then, is the moment when rivalry, national 
prejudices, and antipathies, ought to disappear before 
the grand object of the independence of nations. 

'<TAe Emperour JVapoleon cannot live in peace with 
Europe, unless E^irope he his slave. His presumption 
carried 400,000 brave men seven hundred miles from 
their country: misfortunes against which he did not 
deign to provide, fell upon their heads, and 300,000 
Frenchmen perished on the territory of a great em- 
pire, the Sovereign of which had made every effort 
to preserve peace with France. 

**It was to be expected that this terrible disaster, 
the effect of Divine vengeance, would have inclined the 
Emperour of France to a less murderous system; and 
that, instructed at last by the example of the North 
and of Spain, he would have renounced the idea of 
subjugating the Continent, and have consented to let 
the world be at peace: but this hope has been disap- 



SIS 

Jjointcdj and that peace which all goveniments desire, 
and which every government has proposed, has been 
rejected by the Emperour Napoleon. 

"Soldiers! — It is to arms then we must have re* 
course to conquer, repose, and independence. The 
same sentiments which guided the French in 1792, 
and which prompted them to assemble, and to combat 
the armies which entered their territory, ought now 
to animate your valour against those, who, after hav- 
ing invaded the land which gave you birth, still hold 
in chains your bretliren, your wives, and your chil- 
dren. Soldiers! what a noble prospect is opened to 
youj The liberty of Europe, the re-establishment of 
its equilibrium, the end of tliat convulsive state which 
has had twenty years duration: finally, the peace of 
the world, will be the result of your efforts. Render 
yourselves worthy, by your union, your discipline, and 
your courage, of the high destiny which awaits you, 

"Charles John*. 
From my Head-quarters at Oranienburg, 
August ±5, 1813. 



"THIRD BULLETIN. 

**Head-quarters, Charlottenbnrgf August 18, 1813. 

««The Prince Royal left Potzdam at three o'clock 
yesterday morning, and transferred his head-quarters 
to this place. ' 

<«Repeated advices have been received that the ene- 
my's troops were assembling in force at Bareuth, and 
in the direction of Trcbben, to make a push on Berlin. 



S13 

His Royal Highness concentrated the cemhined army 
between the capital and Spandau. Nearly 90,000 
combatants have arrived in that position since yes- 
terday evening. Some corps have marched ten Ger° 
man miles in S6 hours. 

Lieutenstnt Baron de Winzingerode has made a re^ 
connoisance on the right with 8 or 9000 cavalry. He 
pushed forward as far as Wittenberg and Juterbock, 
on the left flank of the enemy, and made some prison- 
ers, two of whom are captains. The Bavarian Colo- 
nel, Count de Sessel, has been taken with some ca- 
valry.^ Lieutenant de Vins, of the regiment of hus>- 
sars of Pomerania, attacked the enemy at Zesch, and 
took 52 men and 21 remount horses, belonging to a re- 
giment of Hesse Darmstadt cavalry. « 

<*The enemy^ as far as is yet known, has not passed 
the frontier, except with reconnoitring parties. 

The French General of Division De Jomini, chief 
of the staff of the army commanded by the Frince of 
Moskwa, came over on the ±5th to the Mlies, and, pas- 
sing through the army of General Bluclier, proceeded 
to the Russian head -quarters. He has confirmed the 
intelligence of the Emperour Napoleon's project to 
attack the army covering Berlin.* 

** General Blueher occupied Breslau on the 14th.'* 



• The defection of General De Jomini, although by birth a Swiss, afibrded to 
Flench Generals the beneficial example of leaving Buonaparte to bis falling fortunes, 
and repairing to the standard of the cause of independence and of humanity: an esaiaa 
pie that was directly tbilowed by several other French officers,— Jt F. 



29 



214' 

^ "FOTTRTH BUllETIKT. 

"Petxidani) Aug7ist21, 1813. 

"The position of the Prince Royal's army is remov- 
ed from Potzdam to Trebhin and Beleitz; — that the 
enemy had under Oudinot 20,000 men at Liicken- 
walde. Some affairs of advanced posts had taken 
place. 

"General Walmoden reports, that two battalions of 
Lutzow had been attacked near Lauenburg, on the 
17th, and 18th, by six battalions; but they had been 
repulsed. 

( riFTH BUIXETIN. 

"BATTLE OF GROSS BEREN. 

**Ruhlsdorff, JVoon, Mgust, 24, 1813. 



<'<A11 the reports of the secret agents having an- 
nounced that on the evening of the 2ist of August, the 
Emperour Napoleon was concentrating the corps of 
the Dukes of Reggio, Bolluno, and Pandua, and of 
Generals Bertrand and Regnier, forming more than 
80,000 men, in the environs of Bareuth, and every 
thing announcing on the part of his troops a rapid 
march upon Berlin; the Prince Royal made the fol- 
lowing dispositions: — 

<*The third Prussian corps, commanded by Bulow, 
placed two divisions between Hernersdorf and Klein 
Beren. One division already occupied Mittenwalde, 
and another Trebbin, in order to mask the whole 



M5 

movement. The fourth Prussian corps, under Tau- 
enzeen, united at Blankenfelde. The Swedish army 
left Potzdam on the 22d at 2 a. m. proceeded upon 
Saarmund, passed the defiles, and took post at Ruhls- 
dorff. The Russian army followed the Swedish army, 
and took post at Gutergatze. General TchernichefF 
guarded Beleitz and Treuenbrietzen with 3000 Cos- 
sacks and a brigade of light infantry. 

"The secret agents announced that the Emperour 
Napoleon was to pass by Luckau to proceed to Bay- 
reuth. Greneral TchernichefF executed his orders 
with his usual intelligence, and carried alarm and un- 
easiness to the rear of the enemy's columns. General 
Herschfeldt, who had received orders to proceed from 
the environs of Magdeburg to Brandenburg and Potz- 
dam, and from Potzdam to Saarmund, made a rapid 
movement of five Swedish miles in ten liours, 

'^Affairs were in this state when tlie enemy attacked 
General Thuen, at Trebbin, on the 22d, in the morn- 
ing. Their superiority determined the General to 
evacuate that post. The enemy advanced successively, 
and occupied all the interval between Mittenwalde 
and the Saare, covered by woods and flanked by 
marshes. The advanced posts fell back slowly, and 
covered the front of the line. On the 23d, in the 
morning, the corps of General Bertrand debouched 
upon General Tauenzeen. The latter repulsed him, 
and made some prisoners, 

<*The village of Gross Beren, against which the 
seventh French corps, and a strong reserve, were direct- 
ed, was taken by him. The Duke of Reggio's corps 
proceeded upon AhrendorfF. By the occupation of 



216 

Gross Beren, the enemy was -at 1000 toises from the 
centre of the camp.* General Bulow received orders 
to attack it; he executed it with the decision of a skil- 
ful general. The troops marched with the calmness 
that distinguished the soldiers of the great Frederick 
in the seven years' war. The cannonade was warm 
for some hours. The troops advanced under the pro- 
tection of the artillery, and fell with the bayonet upon 
tlie seventh corps, which had deployed in the plain, 
and which marched boldly upon the camp. There 
were several charges of cavalry against the corps of 
the Duke of Padua, which do great honour to the 
Prussian General Oppen. The Russian and Swedish 
army were in battle, and waited the deploying of the 
other enemy's corps to attack them at the same time. 
General Winzingerode was at the head of 10,000 horse, 
and the Count de WoronzofF at the head of the Rus- 
sian infantry. 

"Marshal Count Stedingk, in front of the Swedish 
line, had his cavalry in reserve. The village of Ruhls- 
dorfF, situated in front of his camp, was furnished 
with infantry, in order to keep open the communi- 
cation v/ith General Bulow. The other corps of the 
enemy's army not having debouched from tlie wood^ 
the Russian a^id S\yedisiiv army did not stir. 

"Iloweyer, the pnemy, menacing the village of 
Ruhlsdorff, and having alrqady pushed his tirailleurs 

» The village of Gross Beren being within a small distance of the Prince Royal's 
campjit afforded the enemy a considerable command overit;ajid his Royal Highness 
seeing tlie importance of that place caused it to be attacked be General Bulow's, 
cori>s, which t'Xfcuttd the operation witli the greatest g;illantry and success. The 
eneniy next made attemps upon the vijage of Ruhlsdortf, and upon other parts of the 
line, which were equally fruitless: and they consequently desisted, and fell back iu 
the lUrection of Dresden.— J. P. 



M7 

3^ainst the light Swedish troops placed in front of 
that village, the Prince Royal oixlered some battalions, 
supported by artillery, to reinforce the advanced posts, 
and Colonel Cardell was directed to push on with a 
battalion of flying artillery, to take the enemy in 
flank. 

Hitherto the results of the affair of Gross Beren are 
26 cannon, 30 caissons, and much baggage, and 1600 
prisoners, among whom are 40 ofiicers, the Colonel of 
IQhlans of the Saxon Guard, and several Lieutenant- 
Colonels and French Majors. The number of killed 
and wounded of the enemy is very considerable, and 
the woods are filled with stragglers, whom the light 
cavalry are bringing in every moment. 

"The enemy have retired beyond Trebbin, which 
is already occupied by two regiments of Cossacks. 
General Bulow, Tauenzeen, and O'Rourke, are in pur- 
suit of the enemy, as well as the whole light Russian 
icavalry. 

*'The Prince Royal found among the prisoners, offi- 
cers and soldiers who had served under his orders, 
and who shed tears of joy in seeing their old general 
agaitto" 



From the preceding very interesting Bulletin it will 
be observed, that the Prince Royal completely out- 
manoeuvred the attack directed upon Berlin, and hav- 
ing gained the battle on the 34th with his left wing, 



^18 

be followed up his successes by advancing both his 
wings and his centre as far as circumstances would 
permit, defeated his enemy in every direction, and 
took a considerable number of pieces of cannon. 

Immediately after the first victorious accounts were 
received at Berlin from the Prince Royal, a deputation 
was sent to thank him in the name of that city for the 
protection he had afforded it; to which the Prince 
Royal returned the following answer; 

^'Gentlemen, 
<*I have not deserved your thanks: but I rejoice 
much in this generous participation in the fortune of 
our arms, and in your attachment to your exalted 
Monarch. We shall conquer: the advanced guard of 
our army has already driven the flying enemy into 
Saxony. Let us only have confidence in ourselves, 
and Prussia shall soon be restored to her former great- 
ness, and we will then celebrate the festival of victory 
togetheir. Salute, on my part, the worthy inhabitants 
of Berlin, and forget us not. Adieu, Gentlemen.** 



"SIXTH BCILETIKT. 

^^Head-quarters, Saamiundf dug, 28, 1813. 

*«The Prince Royal removed his head-quarters to 
tliis place on the 26th of August. 

"The corps of General Hirschfeldt was posted, the 
26th, between Seckau and Golzow, where he had 
hopes of cutting off the rear-guard of General Gi- 
rard*s, which was proceeding from Ziesar to Bruck; 



S19 

but the enemy passed in such haste that he could not 
effect it. 

<*0n the 25th, two officers and 104 soldiers of the 
enemy, of dijfferent nations, were brought to Potzdam; 
who were willingly made prisoners by 20 men of the 
militia cavalry. They grounded their arms. They 
assert this disposition in general. '^ 

*'The pursuit of the enemy is so brisk, that on the 
25th, General O'Rourke arrived at Gotten, where the 
Dukes of Reggio and Padua, and General Regneir, 
passed the preceding night with a large division of 
their army. 

«»The enemy having forced Colonel Adrianoff to re*- 
tire to Juterbock, and having taken post therein with 
two battalions of foot and 600 Polish hulans> probably 
with the view of facilitating a retreat and keeping 
open his communication with the Elbe; he was dis- 
lodged quickly on the 26th, by a part of the troops 
under General O'Rourke, and two Prussian squad- 
rons, under Major Hell wig. Colonel Krasoffski at- 
tacked and took possession of the town. General Ben- 
kendorfF pursued the enemy with four squadrons of 
Russian cavalry. The two Prussian squadrons, and 
two pieces, which were in the villages of Sohrbeck 
and Boschav, joined him. The enemy lost in this 
affair more than 300 men killed, besides many pri- 
soners. 

**Several French officers have come over to us, and 
have been embodied with our troops. 

'^General Tchernicheff occupied Belzig the night of 



"tlie 26th with his Cossacks. General Girard, who 
had stopped at Lubnitz in order to pass the night, 
was alarmed on the spot; a brisk action ensued near 
Belzig. He did not, however, succeed in keeping 
possession of tite town. 

*<The 26th, Colonel Krus returned to Niemeck 
with his regiment of cavalry from his expedition to 
Dalme, whicii he executed most brilliantly. Envi- 
roned on all sides by the enemy, he was unable long 
to retain his position. Neverthekss he seized, within 
sight of a strong column, seventy carriages laden 
with provisions, and took of their escort six officers, 
and 120 men, the rest were either killed or dispersed. 
The Prince Royal has directed General Winzinge- 
rode to express to this brave officer his entire satis- 
faction at the skill and valour he displayed on so in- 
teresting an occasion. 

*< General Bulow's head-quarters were on the 27th 
at Elsholtz; General Borstell was in the environs 
of Lackchwalde; General Tauenzeen's head-quarters 
were at Bareuth on the 27 th; his corps was posted 
between that city, Golzen, and Luckau. He evinced 
great ability in quickly collecting his reserve; and 
much activity in chasing the enemy from the wood. 
General Wobeser, after galling the left flank, and rear 
of the enemy, collected his force near Golzen, march- 
ed upon Bareuth, eloigning an enemy's force of 2500 
men. All our troops harassed the enemy in their re- 
treat. All the roads are covered with arms, and dead 
or disabled horses. The French rear-guard destroyed 
its baggage. 

"General Welmoden was attacked on the 21st, in 



the afternoon, between Vallaliu and Caminj by a 
French force of 20,000 men, coram anded by the 
Prince of Eckmuhl; the battle lasted till long after 
nij^ht-fall — the positions were maintained on both 
sides. Our loss is about 100 men, killed arid wounded: 
that of the enemy, according to the prisoners, exceeds 
600. The 23d, they concentrated themselves at Wit- 
tenberg, and after various demonstrations, suddenly 
detached 10,000 men towards Schwerin;— -the remain- 
der shortly followed. They took a strong position be- 
tween the great and little Lake. General Tettenborn^ 
with four regiments of Cossacks, supported by the 
corps of Lutzen and of Reiche, observed them on all 
sides, and cut off their communication. They have 
already intercepted many couriers, dispatched by the 
French government, and taken many waggons of 
ammunition. In addition. General Vegesack observes 
their motions and takes his measures in consequence. 
General Walmoden feels he should not let this hazar- 
dous manoeuvre of the enemy pass himj he advanced 
to Grabow, but tlie 26th, he marched again towards 
Schwerin; from whence the enemy have not yet at- 
tempted to stir. About 100 French and Danish pri- 
soners have been taken by the Cossacks. Count 
Kielmansegge of the Hanoverian Chasseurs, passed 
the Elbe, with his detachment, near Doraitz, on the 
25th, in the morning. He attacked the enemy in an 
entrenched post, and after having killed and wounded 
about fifty, took three officers, and 100 men prisoners. 

*<Yesterday was made remarkable by the defeat of 
the corps under General Girard, between Lubnitz and 
Belzig, through the combined efforts of Generals 
Tchernicheff, while, without being aware of it, 
Hirschfeldt was on their rear. He profited by the sit- 
30 



uation of a wood, to fall upon their left Hank. The 
heights in front of the villa,^e of Hagelberg, and that 
where the enemy had formed, were carried by assault, 
and retaken several times. After an obstinate resist- 
ance, all the enemy's army, which was greatly supe- 
riour in number to ours, retired in much disorder, and 
were pursued by the tirailleurs until nightfall, 

*<0n this occasion, General Tchernicheff attacked 
the enemy on tlie side of Belzig; his cavalry executed 
some brilliant charges. A regiment of Cossacks 
charged a column of infantry 1000 strong, which it 
destroyed or made prisoners. We cannot yet specify 
all the officers who signalized themselves in this day's 
action. General Tchernicheff took sixty officers, 
1500 soldiers, and one piece of cannon. General 
Hirschfeldt, between seventy and eighty officers, and 
more than 2000 soldiers, besides seven cannon, many 
waggon loads of ammunition, and nearly all the 
enemy's haggage. The Prussian infantry required 
some repose, after such toilsome marches; hut the 
Cossacks, under General Tchernicheff, pursued the 
enemy briskly; Colonel Benkendorff, on the evening 
of the 27th, passed through the enemy, and was at 
Gotzke, It is probable they will not escape; nor any, 
save the feeble remains of the corps of General Gi- 
rard, towards Magdeburg or Wittenberg, 

"That which more particularly reflected honour on 
the corps of General Hirschfeldt, was the forced 
marches which it executed immediately after this ac- 
tion. The young troops of the new levy, chiefly com- 
posed of the militia of the new marches, obtained a 
victory over an enemy supcriour in number and in 
artillery. This proves what ardent patriotism, guided 



S23 

by an able and active general, can perform. Saxons, 
Bavarians, Wurtembiirgers! you liave shewn your 
courage in a cause repugnant to the wishes and the 
interests of your country, and sustaining a foreign 
yoke, which could never exist if you were animated by 
motives truly noble and pure! Where is that power on 
the earth which united Germans, combating for the 
independence and the integrity of their country, could 
not successfully resist? 

'^General Thumen evinced great bravery in the ac- 
tions which preceded the affairs of Gross Beren.— • 
Although wounded, he continued to command in per-p 
son. General O'Rourke displayed in all the actions 
with the enemy a great deal of coobiess and talent. — 
Since the renewal of hostilities, the enemy's force op- 
posed to that of the allies in the north of Germany, 
has lost more than 12,000 men. According to the re- 
ports of the generals, 7000 prisoners have been made, 
of whom 250 are officers, including several colonels 
jmd lieutenant-colonels. 

^August %9th, nine cPclock A. M, 

''Lieutenant General Count Tauenzeen has detach- 
ed General Wobeser to take possession of the town of 
Luckau. The latter summoned the commandant yes- 
terday, and having met wdth a refusal, he bombarded 
the place. At the moment he was about to give the 
assault, the commandant capitulated; nine pieces of 
cannon, 1000 prisoners, and a considerable quantity 
of ammunition and stores, are the result of this bril- 
liant operation.," 



SS4 

SEVENTH BULLETIN-. 

"Read-quarters, Belitz, August 30, 1813. 

f^'The Prince Royal removed his head-quarters to 
tills place ill the course of the day. 

^'From all the iHtelligence received by the prisoners 
of the corps of General Girard, that officer was killed 
in tlie affair of the 27th. General Paulitz received a 
•violent contusion on the shoulder. He displayed much 
bravery and talent. Prisoners are hourly made, and 
the troops are ia brisk pursuit of the enemy. 

<*General Borstel occupies Zinna and Juderbock, 
and has given, on every opportmiity, proofs of his 
zeal and science. 

**The enemy appeared disposed to concentrate yes- 
terday, at Eckmansdorff and Kattenborn, between 
Wittenberg and Treuenbrietsten. Tlie intelligence 
leccived this day from Generals "Winzingerode and 
"VYoronzoff, leaves it no longer in doubt that the ene- 
my liave retired towards the Elbe. General Win* 
zingerode pursues tbeni with 8000 cavalry. 

"General Woronzoff, who went to take the com- 
mand of the Russian advanced guard, made an attack 
upon Juterbock the day before yesterday, towards 
night, with between 3 and 4,000 men, whilst the ene- 
my had at least 20,000 in the town or very near it. 
A brisk cannonade put the enemy in great alarm. 
Tiiis operation was highly creditable to the talents of 
General Woronzoff, who, at the moment of its^ com- 



^5 

niencement, was uninformed that a strong column 
was on its march to support hini in case of necessity. 

^•'AU tlie army is upon the advance-. 

*'The Grand Russian, Austrian, and Prussian army, 
under the command of Marshal Prince Schwartzen- 
berg, debouched from Bohemia into Saxony, the 22d 
of August, taking a position on the left bank of the 
Elbe. The troops which the enemy had posted in the 
defiles were forced.* On tlie 25th, the head-quarters 
of the allies were before Dresden. The bombardment 
commenced, and the city was already in flames. The 
Emperour Napoleon arrived there on the 25th with 
his guard. The French army under his orders im- 
mediately quitted Lusatia and Silesia, and approached 
the Elbe. General Blucher marched from Jauer on 
the 25th, in the morning, and followed with all his 
forces. 

''General Prince Koudaschoff, who was sent express 
from the camp before Dresden, by Prince Schwartzen- 
berg, to his Royal Highness the Prince Ro^^al, ar- 

• On reconnoitring Dresden, the Allies found it to be considerably stronger thaa 
they had imagined. All its defences had been increased by Napoleon, who had fixed 
upon it as the main pivot of all his operations: and that able Cliieftain had rendered 
it not only strong as a fortress, but extremely powerful as an entrenched camp, and 
such as could not, without excessive loss, have been canied by a coup de main. The 
Allies consequently encamped in its front, and their object was reduced to the point of 
maintaining this position, where they would be interposed between the French army 
and the Rhine. 

B uonaparte, however, after compelling Marshal Blucher to retire upon Jauer, left 
Marsha} Macdonald with a considerable force, occupying a strong position in front of 
the Prussian Marshal, whilst, with his guards and chosen troops, he made forced 
inarches through Lusatia. He accomplished a journey of forty leagues in four days, 
and arrived at Dresden: where he was joined by large detachments from Marshal 
Ney's corps, and both that officer and Marshal Victor repaired in^person to Dresden, 
to aid in repelling the Allies, who had taken possession of the out-posts. In this 
they succeeded; the Allies fell back, and took up their fonuer position within the 
Bohemian fioutiers.— J. P. 



3S6 

rived at eight this morning with this intelligence. The 
General traversed the enemy's army, crossed the Elbe, 
by swimming, with 200 Cossacks, between Reissa and 
Missen, and forced several posts. He has just set out 
to Liebenwerda, from thence he is to go to Dalme, 
where he will fall in with the first Prussian troops. 
In his march, he made six Polish officers prisoners, 
whom he brought with him: he joined the head-quar* 
ters of his Royal Highness without the loss of a man. 
Two of his Cossacks were wounded by sabres," 



^'EIGHTH BrLLETIKT. 

*'Head-quarters, Treuenbrietx>en, Sept. 1, 1813. 

<«His Royal Highness removed his head-quarters 
to Bucholz on the 30th August, from whence it was 
shifted liere yesterday at eight o'clock in the morn- 
ing. 

«The enemy had possession of the towns of Marza- 
tin, Schwabeck, Eckmansdorff, and Feldheim. Can- 
non shots were yesterday exchanged between him and 
our reconnoitring corps. General Baron Adlercreutz 
was detached by his Royal Highness to view the ene- 
my's position, and rode forward, accompanied by Gen- 
eral Baron Tawast, within 400 paces of his batteries. 

"The united army is collected together; the Prussian 
and Russian vanguard are in pursuit of the enemy, 
on the road to Wittenberg. A corps of Swedish 
troops, composed of Morner's regiment of hussars, 
two battalions of yagers, and four pieces of artillery, 
under the command of Adjutant-general Baron Cc- 



n%7 

dorstrom, is joined with the Russian vanguard. Gen- 
eral Tchernicheff' s and Colonel Brendell's light troops 
swarm about the enemy. The Generals Tauenzeen 
and Hirschfeldt direct their motions by those of the 
army, and are in connexion with it. 

"The Prince of Eckmuhl, still continued in his po- 
sition near Schwerin, on the 28th of August. His 
Royal Highness has this day sent of General Bjonsti- 
erna with a flag off truce to the French advanced posts, 
to deliver the commandant of Luckau's capitulation." 

Extract of an Official Letter from Treuenbriet'Z>enf of the 
3d September. 

*<The enemy has this morning been attacked and 
driven out of the position he occupied, and, as it ap- 
pears, has thrown himself into Wittenberg. We are 
as yet uninformed of the details of this affair. 

«The town of Zahna has been burnt down. The 
Prince Royal has fixed his head-quarters at Rodigke, 
a town situated near Niemeck, and two German miles 
from Treuenbrietzen. 

NINTH BUIIETIN. 

" Head-quarters f Rodigke, Sept, 4, 1813. 

<*The Prince Royal removed his head-quarters to 
Buchlaoltz, on the 30th August, on the 31st to Treuen- 
brietzen, and yesterday to this place. Luckau is one of 
those points on the frontiers of Saxony, which the 
enemy had fortified with the greatest assiduity during 
the armistice. He reckoned to be able to^defend it long- 



er, and did not expect to see us there so soon. We 
give the capitulation of this place afterwards. The 
Prince Royal has ordered that the neig-hbouring moun- 
tain shall be fortified; 600 men are at work on it.— 
The suburbs will be razed, and by this means the 
garrison of Luckau will be able to defend itself. 

*<The ground, which is very much broken to some 
leagues from Wittenberg, favoured the enemy's re- 
treat, and prevented the light cavalry from acting.— 
He has notwithstanding been forced from time to time, 
in his different positions. 

'<0n the 30th August, General Winzingerode, had 
his head-quarters at Niemeck, General Blucher had 
his at Treuenbrietzen, and on the 1st September at 
FrohnsdorfF. On the 2d September this general's 
corps advanced into the position of Schwabegh and 
Feldhum, his advanced guard being at Marzahner. 

*<The enemy garrisoned Kropstadt, but defiled dur- 
ing the night, and at break of day his rear guard com- 
menced its retreat. General BorstcU pursued him 
as far as Tiiiesen. 

««The enemy commenced a heavy cannonade and 
fire of musketry to cover this position, but General 
Borstell's advanced posts sustained themselves before 
the defiles of Kopping, 2000 paces from Thiesen: the 
division of Colonel Kraft ascended the heights of 
Kropstadt to support General Borstell. 

"At the same time General Dobschutz made him- 
self master of the heights of the town of Zalina. His 
communication with General Borsteli was kept up by 



the post of WoUersdorff, of wliich Major Blyer had 
taken possession. The rest of General Bulow's corps 
took possession of Marralieu. 

**The Prussian division, under the command of Co^ 
lonel Krafft, has principally contributed to the suc- 
cess of the affair at Gross Beren, and the commander 
has distinguished himself by his intrepidity. The 
Prince of Hesse Homberg's corps has likewise taken 
an active share in the engagements which took place; 
and the Prince has, on every occasion, given proofs 
of his valour and activity. The enemy being hard 
pressed on his left by the Generals Woronzoff, 
O'Rourke, and Tchernicheff, made some attempts 
from the side of C as wig, but was always repulsed 
with loss. 

«0n the 3d September, Lieutenant-colonel Zzbacha 
was detached by General Woronzoff to take possession 
of a wood near Schaoilkendorff, and executed his or- 
ders with good success. Being afterwards surrounded 
by the enemy with four times his numbers, he still 
faced them, and cleared his way in good order, and 
with very little loss. Schmilkendorff w as again gar- 
risoned by General Woronzoff. 

«<The French corps de armee which had advanced to 
Schwerin, still remained there on the 2d inst. it has 
detached the Danish division to Gadasbusch, to cover 
the rear. 

<«General Tettenborn continued to disturb the ene- 
my's communications, and alarm his advanced posts. 
He took near Gadesbusch a transport of forty wag- 
31 



230 

gons, with provisions and ammunition, after Iiaving 
killed and dispersed its escort. 

**The consequences of the victory gained by Gen- 
eral Blucher on the 26th on the Katzbach, are deci- 
sive. The result of that action on the 30th amounted 
to more than 14,000 prisoners, 80 pieces of artillery, 
and 300 ammunition waggons. The whole French 
division of General Pulhod on the 29th ult. laid down 
their arms at Lowenberg, with the exception of three or 
400 men, who threw themselves into the Bober. Gen- 
eral Blucher, on the 30th of August, had his head-quar- 
ters at Holstein, near Lowenberg, and continued 
briskly in pursuit of the enemy. General Benning- 
sen, with his corps d'armee, arrived at Breslau on the 
30th, from whence he proceeded to Leignitz, marching 
on the same line with General Blucher." 



On the 5th September, at night, the Prince Royal 
was informed that a very considerable corps of French 
troops had debouched from Wittenberg at ten, a. m. 
and proceeded upon Zahna, occupied by the Prussian 
General Dobschutz. It was at first thought that this 
movement, and the attacks made the same time upon 
the villages of Zalmsdorff and Wattersdorff, had no 
other object than to cover a retreat upon Torgau. 
Later in the evening, General Bulow reported to the 
Prince Royal, tliat the enemy had carried Zahna and 
Leyda, and pressed warmly upon the corps of Tauen- 
zeen, on the road to Juterbock. His Royal Highness, 
in consequence, marched with his whole army at two 



S31 

in the morning, to proceed by a movement on the 
left upon the enemy's flank, and give him battle. The 
tenth and eleventh bulletins furnish the details. 



TENTH BULIETIN. 

'^Head-quarters, Juterhock, Sept, 6, 1813, 

**The Prince Royal transferred his head-quarters 
to Rabenstein on the ^^th of this month. 

"At the moment when his Royal Highness had com- 
menced a movement, in order to advance with the 
Russian and Swedisli army to Roslau,* with an inten- 
tion of there crossing the Elbe, and of taking the di- 
rection of Leipzig, his Royal Highness learnt that the 
enemy, after having made a demonstration of passing 
over to the left side of the river, had suddenly return- 
ed into his entrenchments of Teuchel and Tragun, 
in advance of Wittenberg. This sudden return af- 
forded a presumption, either that he intended to at- 
tack the combined army in their passage across the 
Elbe, or to make a rapid march upon Berlin, 

"The Prince Royal slackened the pace of his troops, 
and announced that it should take place the following 
day; two battalions, a Swedish and a Prussian, were 
dispatched to Roslau, under the orders of Lieutenant 
Colonel Hoist, aide-de-camp to his Royal Highness, 
in order to collect all materials necessary for the con- 
struction of a bridge. 

• His Royal Highness took with him the Swedish and Russian troops; while Gen^ 
ral Tauenzeen was left with 40,000 Prussians »t Juterbock, for the purpose of cotct- 
ing Berlin. 



S3S 

«Tlie reports of the outpost annouticed erery mo- 
ment, that the enemy's army was marching upon Zah- 
na. This post, occupied by the corps of General 
Dobschutz, belonging to the corps d'armee of Gen- 
eral Count Tauenzeen, was attacked by a very supe^ 
riour force on the 4th September, in the afternoon, and 
maintained its ground with great bravery. 

*'The enemy having been repulsed in several at- 
tacks, re-entered his entrenchments before Witten- 
berg. 

*<N*xt day, the Sth of September, most murderwis 
attacks were renewed against Zahna, and in spite of 
the courage displayed by General Dobschutz, with 
the troops under his orders, that position was carried. 
The same was the case, after an obstinate resistance, 
with respect to the post of Seyda> occupied by the 
corps of Tauenzeen. 

*'The reports of the country people, of the out- 
posts, and of secret agents, announced positively that 
the enemy was taking the route of Torgau. These 
accounts came in every hour: only one single person 
brought word that the enemy intended to proceed to 
Juterbock," 

ELEVJilfTH BUlLETIIf. 

"BATTLE OF DENNEVITZ. 

^'Jntsrbock, Sept. 8, 1813, 

<'Tbe Prince |loyal set out on the 6th of Septem- 
ber, at three o'clock in the morning, from Rabcnsteini 



233 

sntl collected fie Swe<lish arid Russian armies upon 
the !>eiglits of Lobessen. His Royal Highness waS 
waitin.^ the reports of General Taaenzeen, whom he 
thought farther advanced, when he received an ac- 
count from General Bulow, announcing that the whole 
army of the enemy was in full march upon Juter- 
bock.* The Prince Royal ordered him to attack im- _ 
mediately the flank and rear of the enemy, before 
General Tauenzeen, who defended the approaches of 
the town, should be overwhelmed by numbers. The 
Swedish army, who had been marching upwards of two 
German miles, proceeded to Juterbock, which was yet 
distant three German miles, and was followed by the 
Russian army, with the exception of the advanced 
guard, under the orders of Count WoronzofF, and of 
the corps of General TchernichefF, which continued 
before Wittenberg. The cannonade and musketry be- 
gan immediately between the Prussian troops and the 
army of the enemy. The Russian and Swedish corps, 
after their forced marches, were obliged to halt for a 
moment, in order to form in the order of battle. The 
Prussian army, at most 40,000 men strong, sustained 
in the mean while, with a courage truly heroic, the re- 
peated efforts of 70,000 of the enemy supported by 200 
pieces of cannon. The struggle was unequal and mur- 
derous. The Prussian troops, however, were not dis- 
concerted even for one moment; and if some battalions 
^ere obliged to yield for an instant the ground which 
they had gained, it was only for the purpose of re-oc- 

• The allies haying retired from before Dresden, Marshal Key returned to hit 
«ovps, and brought with him the detachments ■which had been withdrawn from it to 
strengthen the position of Buonaparte at Dresden; and findir.g that the Prince Royal's 
army was divided, he formed the design of attacking one of them separately. That 
part of the army which liad been brought to the left bank of the Elbe, in order to 
oppose the euterprizes of his Royal Highness, now altered its movements, and sud* 
denly repassed at Wittenberg, and marched upon Juterbock, where General Taueo- 
aeen's corps was posted.— J. P. 



S34 

cupyiiij^ it the moment after. Wliilst this was passing, 
70 battalions of Russians and Swedes, 10,000 horse of 
both nations, and 150 pieces of artillery, advanced in 
columns of attack, leaving intermediate spaces for de- 
ploying. Four thousand Russian and Swedish cavalry 
had advanced in full speed to support some points 
whither the enemy principally directed his attack. 
Their appearance began to check him, and the ap- 
pearance of the columns did the rest. The fate of the 
battle was instantly decided. The enemy's army beat 
a retreat; the cavalry charged them with a boldness 
resembling fury, and carried disorder into their co- 
lumns, which retreated with great precipitation upon 
the route of Zahna. 

"The enemy's force was composed of four corps 
d'armee — those of Marshal Duke of Reggio, of Gen- 
rals Bertrand and Regnier, and of that of the Duke 
of Padua, and of from three to four thousand Polish 
troops, foot and horse, the whole under the command 
of the Marshal Prince of Moskwa. The res ult of this 
battle, which was fought near the village of Denne- 
vitz, by the name of which it will be called, was al- 
ready, yesterday morning, five thousand prisoners, 
three standards, from five-and-twenty to thirty pieces 
of cannon, and upwards of two hundred ammunition 
waggons. The field of battle, and the road over 
which the enemy passed, are strewed with dead and 
wounded, and with a quantity of arms; six thousand 
of the former have already been collected. Vigor- 
ously pursued, the enemy, who appeared willing to 
proceed to Torgau, will not reach the Elbe before he 
has suffered losses yet more considei*able. So early 
as yesterday evening, General Wobeser, who had been 
ordered to proceed with 5000 men from Luckau upon 



2S5 

Zahna, attacked in that town, where the Prince de la 
Moskwa and the Dukes of Reggio and of Padua had 
taken up their quarters, part of the enemy's army 
that intended to go to Dresden, and made 2500 pri< 
isoners. Major Helwig, with five hundred horse, ad- 
vanced upon Sweinitz and Hertzberg, and attacked a 
column of the enemy in the night, taking 600 pri- 
soners and eight pieces of cannon. General O'Rourke, 
at the head of his cavalry, has made upwards of one 
thousand prisoners, and taken several pieces of can- 
non. The light troops were every day bringing in 
more; and General Regnier remained a long time ex- 
posed to the fire of our sharp-shooters, in the situation 
of a man desirous of death. We may estimate that 
the enemy has lost, up to this moment, in killed, 
wounded, and prisoners, from sixteen to eighteen 
thousand men, more than fifty pieces of cannon, and 
four hundred ammunition waggons. The loss of the 
enemy in killed and wounded must have been immense. 
Half of the escort of the Prince de la Moskwa was 
killed; Marshal Duke de Reggio charged himself the 
infantry of the Count de Tauenzeen. The loss of 
Prussian troops is great, and amounts to between four 
and 5000 men in killed and wounded. However, the 
results of the day ought to contribute to the consolation 
of every true patriot, who will find the triumph of 
the cause of his country insured by the death of these 
brave men. The Swedish and Russian troops, have 
lost little. 

"The corps vied with each other in courage and de- 
votion. The heroic example shewn on this occasion 
by the Prussian army is calculated to exist for ever in 
the annals of military fame, and to inspire all those 
who fight for the independence of Germany. The Rus- 



2S6 

^ian and Swedish troops who took part in the engage- 
Bient, have valiantly seconded the efforts of tlieir 
brethren in arms. General Bulow has displayed the 
coolness and bravery of a warriour, who has no other 
object than the glory of his king, and the defence of 
his country. The officers under his command have 
imitated his honourable example. The Prince of Hesse 
Hombourg, Generals Oppen, Borstel, and Thumen, 
and Colonel Krafft, have distinguished themselves in 
the most brilliant manner. 

*<General the Count de Tauenzeen has continued to 
give proofs of his talents aiid sang Jroid, He has, 
during nearly the whole affair, sustained most vigor- 
ous and repeated attacks of the enemy, and has been 
of great assistance towards the successful result of the 
struggle, as much by the boldness he has shewn, as by 
the admirable choice of his position, 

"The Russian General Count de Manteuffel distin- 
guished himself in charging at the head of his brigade. 
Generals Woronzoff, Tchernicheff, Benckendorff, and 
Hirshfeldt, having been placed much in advance upon 
the right wing of the army were not enabled to assist 
in the engagement^ but they have materially contri- 
buted to our success by the positions which they oc- 
cupied » 

"Marshal the Count de Stedinck, and General the 
Baron de "Winzingcrode, the generals, officers and 
men under their command, regretted that the precipi- 
tate retreat of the enemy at their approach, did not 
leave them the opjwrtunity of rendering their destruc- 
tion complete, by a simultaneous attack. The wind 
and the great clouds of dust, for a long time, prevented 



2S7 

the Russian and Swedish armies from distinguishing 
each other, notwithstanding that they marched in con- 
cert and upon the same line. 

*'The Prince Royal has been constantly attended by 
his staff. General the Baron de Adlercreutz did not 
leave him until he had received directions to proceed 
to the right of the Prussian army with several pieces 
of cannon, under the direction of Colonel CardilL 
This General has entirely fulfilled the intentions of his 
Royal Highness, and he daily acquires new claims 
upon his esteem and friendsliip. 

<*He is also much satisfied with the zeal of Generals 
the Baron de Tawast, and the Count de Lowenhielm. 
Generals the Baron de Suchtelen, de Vincent, de 
Krusemark, and Pozzo di Borgo, have constantly at- 
tended near the Prince Royal's person. 

^«A solemn Te Deum has this day been chaunted in 
every corps of the army, for the advantages which 
have been gained by the combined forces since the com- 
mencement of hostilities. 

*'Among the prisoners are a number of Saxons, who 
have requested permission to form themselves into a 
Saxon legion, to fight in behalf of the independence of 
the Sovereigns, and of the liberty of Germany. The 
Prince Royal has complied with their offer, persuaded 
that the devotion of these brave men will prove satis> 
factory to the allied powers." 



.52 



238 

TWELFTH BTJIXETIN. 

"Head-quarters, Juterhock, Sept. 10, 1813. 

"The last was of tlie 8th inst. Every day brings 
fresh proof that the consequences* of the battle of 
Dennevitz are of greater weight than were at first ex- 
pected. It is already calculated that 10,000 prisoners, 
80 cannon, upwards of 400 ammunition waggons, 
three pair of colours, and one standard were taken. 
After General Wobeser had put to flight the enemy's 
army at Zahna, it continued its retreat on Torgau. 
Our light troops did not desist from following him and 
taking prisoners, ammunition waggons, and baggage. 
The enemy has broken down the bridges over the Es- 
ter, in the vicinity of Annaberg and Hertzberg. 

"The cavalry, indeed, may cross the river, but the 
bridges must be repaired before the artillery can be 
got over it. Eight Imndred prisoners were ta/ken^close 
to the tete-de-pont at Torgau, and some battalions, 
wliich found it impossible to reach Torgau, Iiave turn- 
ed towards Muhlberg, and taken their route towards 
Dresden. 

"The Marshal Prince Von Eckmubl had, in the 
night between the 2d and 3d of September, left 
Schwerin with the whole of his army. Considering the 
strong position in which he was, this motion appears 



• Tlje consequences of this and tlic ather successes of the Prince Royal's army 
■were immense. They more than compensated for tlie temporary advantages Buona- 
parte had acquired by repelling tlie allies from before Dresden. The losses of the 
enemy were great in men, ammunition, and artillery, and Buoimparte became sensible 
that his forces which at the termination of llie annisiice, as already observed, were 
equal m point of numben to tbe allies, were now considerably inferiour.— J. F. 



S39 

to be a consequence of the progress made by the allied 
army on the side of Saxony. The enemy had time 
enough to put every thing in readiness for his retreat, 
so that we could not come up with his artillery and 
baggage: he had, besides, a great start of Generals 
Wallmoden's and Vegesack's corps: the first of which 
was at Crewitz, and the latter near the Warin. 

"The corps d'armee under the Prince of Eckmuhl 
marched, in two columns, on the road from Gades- 
busch and Rhena, and halted about half a German 
mile from Ratzeburg. 

**General Loisson's division retreated in the same 
direction from Wismar through Grevesmuhlen to 
Schenberg. At this place the Danish troops separa- 
ted from the French. The latter marched to 
Ratzeburg, and the first to Lul)«ck, where they left 
a garrison, and afterwards encamped farther off, at 
Oldelsohe. The whole French army has retired 
across the Steiknitz, on the banks of which intrench- 
ments are thrown, and they have destroyed all the 
means of crossing the river. The enemy's loss in this 
hasty retreat exceeds 1000 men, of whom upwards of 
600 have been taken prisoners. The Cossacks of the 
corps of Lutzow and Von Reiche, with the Hanseatic 
cavalry, have made several attacks on the enemy's 
rear-guard. On General Vegesack's side the enemy 
was pursued under the guns of Lubeck. 

*«Major Armine, who commanded the Hanseatic 
cavalry with great ability, was there killed by a can- 
non ball. 

"The Mecklenberg yagers attacked a Danish 



squadron in the vicinity of Dessau, and caused it a 
considerable loss. 

'^General Vegesack has again taken his position at 
Grevesmuhlen. General Count Wallnioden had again 
returned to Schwerin, but marched from there to Do- 
mitz, where he caused a bridge to be built to cross the 
Elbe, on the ground of a part of the enemy's force be- 
ing detached to the left side of the river. 

"General Tettenborn's advanced posts stand near 
Boitzenburg. 

*<The Danes have committed many acts of violence 
in Mecklenberg. It is most remarkable that they are 
commanded by a Prince of Hesse, whose family is de- 
clared to have forfeited their possessions by the Empe- 
roiir Napokon, and who, nevertheless, serves that 
Monarch, under the command of the Prince of Eck- 
muhl. 

"Wittenberg is blockaded by General Tchernichelf. 
A number of troops are observing Mecklenberg on 
the right bank of the Elbe. The remains of General 
Girard's corps have escaped into that fortress from the 
left bank of the Elbe. The sallies of the garrison 
are now restrained to felling of wood in the forest of 
Bicderitz, which is done merely to destroy the forest, 
wliich belongs to the Kina: of Prussia. 



'O 



"The advanced posts of General Tauenzeen's corps 
stand at Singtenbcrg. Elstcrwerda, and Ralland; 
and recormoitring parties are pushed as far as Iloyors- 
werda, and into the vicinity of Grossen Hayn. The 
light Russian troops stand along the Elbe as far as 



% 



Muhlberg, and keep Torgau inclined at a short dis- 
tance. Swedish, Russian, and Prussian detachments, 
are sent into the vicinity of Bautzen, to fall in with 
the corps of Generals Benningsen and Blucher. 

"General Vandamme's corps d'armee was annihilat- 
ed on the 30th August, on the road from Toplitz to 
Peterswalde. This general, with five other generals, 
and 15,000 men, were made prisoners^ 80 pieces of ar- 
tillery were taken. 

** After these favourable affairs, the combined army 
moved again forward from Bohemia, into Saxony; 
and the 6th September marched by the way of Peters- 
walde and Altenberg, against Pirna and Dippoldswald. 
Strong detachments, supported by large bodies of re- 
serve, are directed into the enemy's rear to cut off his 
communications. During this time the Emperour 
Napoleon had again gone towards Silesia, with his 
guards and some other troops. 

"The Prince of Moskwa was to cover his left flank, 
and after that he should have beaten the army under 
his Royal Highness, was to have turned a part of his 
force against Neisse. The occurrences on the 6th 
have spoiled this plan; the army of the Prince of 
Moskwa is dispersed; it has lost two thirds of its ar- 
tillery, all its ammunition and baggage and upwards 
of 20,000 men. 

"The Emperour Napoleon is retiring on Dresden,* 



• Buonaparte had advanced into Bohemia with the intention of attacking the Aus- 
tro-Russian army: they occupied, however, too formidable a position to justify an en- 
gagement, and Buonaparte therefore marched back to the Elbe, for the purpose of 
preventing Marshal Blucher obtaining possessign of Dresden: the latter now fell back 



242 

the army of Greneral Blucher pursues him, and will 
probably occasion him great loss. In this manner the 
army of the North of Germany communicates already, 
by its left, with that of Silesia, The army of General 
Benning^sen follows the movements of the latter. 

"A. Swedish convoy passing through the Sound on 
the 2d of this month, was attacked by the Danish gun- 
boats. They occasioned no loss, and were instantly 
repulsed. A claim has been made, on the Danish side, 
because the Swedish merchant vessels no longer pay 
the duty of the Sound. This passage belongs in com- 
mon to the two bordering Powers. It is just that Swe- 
den should no longer pay any duty; and it is to be ex- 
pected, that, if Denmark does not adopt a system 
more analogous to her interests, and to the dignity of 
her people, the Sound duties will be abolished forever 
and for every Power, before the end of the year. 

**At the battle of Dennevitz, the Russian General 
Baron de Pahlen, at the head of the hussar regiment 
of Izum, and the dragoon regiments of Riga and Fin- 
land, made a brilliant charge, between the left of Gen- 
eral Borstell and the right of General Bulow, and took 
eight pieces of cannon from the enemy, 

<«A11 the prisoners aver, that the Russian and Swe- 
dish artillery, by the accuracy of their fire, and the 
boldness of their attack, produced the greatest effect, 
and caused much loss to the enemy. The Prussian 
army bears the same testimony. 

**The General Baron Winzingerode praises highly 

towards the frontiers of Silesia; and the Austro-Russian army ag;ain advanced towards 
Dresden. Napoleon immediately marched to that capital, and the Austro-Russian ar* 
my retired, whilst Matdial Blucher again advanced.— J. P. 



the zeal and talents of the Chief of his Staff, General 
Remy. The Prince Royal has observed his conduct 
with satisfaction on many occasions, and particularly 
in the last battle. 

«The Swedish army remembered with pride, that 
one of its greatest Captains, the Field Marshal Count 
Torstenson, had already given renown to the fields of 
Juterbock, by the victory which he gained there in 
1644. The Swedish troops bivouacked, the night of 
the 6th, nearly on the same ground." 



THIRTEENTH BULLETIlSr. 

^'Head-quarters, Seyda, Sept. 12, 1813. 

"The Prince Royal moved his head-quarters to this 
place yesterday evening. 

«<Many of the officers made prisoners at the bridge 
of Torgau, affirmed yesterday that the Prince of 
Moskwa was dead. Others say that they saw him in 
the tete-de-pont, exhorting the troops to defend it. — ■ 
The same officers also relate, that a few moments be- 
fore the Swedish and Russian columns appeared in the 
plain, the Prince of Moskwa put himself at the head of 
the reserve, composed of two divisions, and exclaimed, 
in marching towards the Prussian army, ^'Victory is 
ours; in two days we shall be in Berlin." He, howe- 
ver, slackened his pace, on seeing the multitude of bat- 
talions which were arriving, and disorder became com- 
plete on the arrival of the cavalry. 

"The divisions of the Prussian army which have 



244 

suffered the most, are re-organizing and repairing their 
loss. It is difficult to display more hravery or more 
perseverance than the young Prussian soldiers have 
shewn. The battalion of Landwehr may even now be 
compared with the best troops in Europe. 

**There exists no jealousies in the combined army. 
It presents a picture of a family of brave men, who 
have sworn to conquer, or to perish in defence of the 
honour of their sovereign and the liberty of Europe. 

^'General "NVinzingerode has already moved across 
the Elbe some thousands of Cossacks, and General 
Tchernicheff already occupies Dessau and Cothen. 

"The army is on the Elbe, and materials are col- 
lected at many points for the passage of that river. 

"Three thousand of the Prussian landstrum have 
passed the Elbe atLenzen, for the purpose of protect- 
ing the former subjects of Prussia. 

"The landstrum of Swedish Pomerania, has already 
been in active service. Two thousand burghers of 
Stralsund have voluntarily offered to work upon the 
fortifications of that place. 

<*The reports of our secret agents at Leipzig, state, 
that couriers had arrived there, announcing the en- 
try of the Austrian troops into Munich." 



I 



4iW^>iFii'-rrrf|iri>iiiggtfr 



M5 

FOURTEENTH BULLETIN. 

"ilead-quarterSi TCoswig'f' Sept 14, I8I3. 

<*The Prince Royal removed his head-quarters to 
this place the day before yesterday. 

"The army has made a general movement to the 
filbe. It is engaged with the means of having strong 
points upon that river, in order to assist the grand 
army. 

"The armies of the centre, commanded by Generals 
Blucher and Benningsen, are approaching Dresden. 
The Swedish Captain Platen, of the Morner hussars, 
who was sent to effect a junction with General Blu- 
cher, has accomplished that purpose in the vicinity of 
Bautzen. 

"The ardent wish of Napoleon to annihilate the 
combined army of the North of Germany, has occa- 
sioned that sovereign to lose much time and many men^ 
in marches and counter-marches. In order to sup- 
port the operations of Marshal the Prince of Moskwa, 
he sent the corps of the Duke of Ragusa to Hoyers- 
werda, on the 7th of September. This corps, about 
25,000 strong, had orders to proceed to Berlin, and to 
effect a junction there with the Prince of Moskwa. A 
strong detachment was, hereupon, to be sent upon the 
right flank of General Blucher, and to force him to 

About this period the Emperour of Austria conferred on the Prince Royal of 
Sweden, the Grand Cross of the Militai? Order of Maria Theresa. 

33 



retreat. The Duke of Ragusa arrived early on the 
8th at Hoyerswerda; but on receiving the intelligence 
of the battle of Dennevitz, he hastily retreated two 
hours afterwards, marching by way of Konigsbruck 
to Dresden, which the Emperour Napoleon, who was 
before him, entered on the morning of the 9th. 

*<Twice did the Emperour Napoleon, with his 
guards, and the corps of the Duke of Ragusa, make 
offensive movements upon the left of the army of Ger- 
many; and twice was he compelled by circumstances, 
to retire with precipitation and loss. 

*<In the retreat of the 8th, the corps of the Duke of 
Ragusa was attacked at Hoyerswcrda by the detach- 
ment of Colonel Figner, of the Russian guards. The 
Colonel, at the head of 800 horse, pursued the Duke of 
Ragusa to Konigsbruck, killed many of the men be- 
longing to his rear, and took a thousand prisoners. — 
Cotitinuing without intermission the pursuit of the 
enemy's rear, this officer fell in with baggage, took the 
greatest part of it, killed a great number of men, and 
carried off with him 400 draught horses. Turning 
upon this towards Grossenhayn, he put to the rout two , 
squadrons of the enemy, belonging to Girardin's di- 
vision. Persons whom this officer had sent to Dres- 
den, assured him on his return that that city was pro- 
vided with no more than a fortnight's necessaries for 
the army, and that there was nothing left for the in- 
habitants. 

"The Saxon Court, formerly so happy and so tran- 
quil, now sees its capital exposed to all the horrours of 
a siege. The King himself, so lately blessed by his 
subjects, is a wretched witness of the calamities which 



247 

oppress his people, without the possibility of alleviating 
them, without any other prospect than that of seeing 
them still farther aggravated. 

«<The Saxon nation is sensible of its own and its 
Sovereign's degradation; it is desirous of resuming its 
rank among independent States; a patriotic spirit is 
already manifested; and soon will there be seen in Sax- 
ony 100,000 hands, armed in' defence of the interests 
of Germany, and the great cause of Europe. 

*'The Saxon legion is forming at the same time 
with that of Baden, and the Germans can demonstrate 
that they are worthy of their forefathers. It is to b,e 
hoped in a short time, all the nations from the coast of 
the Baltic to the right bank of the Rhine, will rise in 
a mass to drive back the oppressors of the Continent 
to the left bank of that river. Fear cannot longer de- 
ter them, for 400,000 victorious warriours are ready 
at all points to support and assist them, 

*<The Allies have no designs against France; they 
love, they respect the French; but they are determin- 
ed to be governed by their own Princes and their own 
laws. If the French of the present day are worthy of 
that glorious name, they will cease to fight for a cause 
which has already brought such calamities upon man- 
kind, and which exposes their reputation to so much 
danger. 

"According to intelligence from Italy, the Viceroy 
has been completely routed by the army of General 
Hiller. 

**A deserter who has this moment arrived from 



g48 

Leipzig, reports, that the Duke of Dalmatia (Soult,) 
has again been beaten on French ground by the Mar- 
quis of Wellington. 

<'The illness of General Lagerbring, chief of the 
staiF of the Swedish army, deprives the army of his 
services for a time. General Von Sparre supplies his 
place, and will perform his duties, as far as his other 
occupations will permit, 

"Prince Charles of Mecklenberg Schwerin has ta- 
ken the command of the landstrum of that country. 

*'Small Swedish detachments have already passed 
the Elbe, and exchanged some musket shots with the 
French advanced posts." 



riFTEENTH BTJllETIBT. 

^^Head-quarters, Zerhst, Sept, 16, 1813, 

<*The Prince Royal yesterday removed his head- 
quarters to this town. General Tchernicheff will pass; 
the Elbe to-day with a corps of cavalry and artillery: 
he will strike terrour into the rear of the enemy, and 
effect a junction with thepart^zans of the grand army 
of Bohemia. 

"The Russian Captain Fabeck, belonging to the 
corps of General Tchernicheff, who had already pass- 
ed the Elbe, has advanced to Naumburg, where he 
found General I'hielmann with about 1000 horse. 
Captain Fabeck, who had only eighty Cossacks with 
him, attacked the enem^ at Querfurt, and took pri- 



M9 

goners a Bavarian colonel, a French lieutenant-colo- 
nel, forty officers, and 500 privates. He delivered the 
soldiers over to a Cossack regiment of General Thiel- 
mann's corps, and has sent all the oflicers to this side 
of the river. 

'^Accounts from Cassel state, that the utmost con- 
sternation prevails in that city and the adjacent coun- 
try: the members of the diplomatic corps are making 
preparations for their departure. The French minis- 
ter Reinhardt manifests great uneasiness. 

<«The Prince of Eckmuhl still occupies the line be- 
hind the Stecknitz, and on the 12th inst. had his head- 
quarters at Ratzeburg. He had detached General Pe- 
cheux with 8 or 9000 men to Magdeburg. General 
Count Wallmoden was apprised of this movement by 
letters which had been intercepted on the left bank of 
the Elbe. He proceeded with part of his force to Do- 
i^iitz, jto watch the motions of the enemy, and, if op- 
portunity should offer, to act offensively against him, 

<*The advanced guard of general Blucher's army 
was on the 13th at Bautzen, and continued its move- 
ment upon Dresden, pursuing the French troops as 
they retreated. Intelligence was received yesterday 
from General Wobeser, who is at Talkenberg, before 
Herzberg, where General Tauenzeen has his head- 
quarters, states that two of the enemy's corps d'ar- 
imee, under the command of the King of Naples, with 
tliirteen regiments of cavalry, were upon the right 
bank of the Elbe. The patroles advanced to the posi- 
tion of General Wobeser, and attempted to intercept a 
convoy of provisions, but without success. 



^0 

"Generals Blucher and Benningsen will give a good 
accoimt of these two corps, should they not return to 
the left hank of the Elhe. General Tauenzeen will 
accordingly act in concert with the allied army, whose 
left wing he forms. 

"The head-quarters of the Swedish troops are at 
Hoslau. The van is already on the left bank of the 
Elbe, and pushes its advanced posts to Dessau. Gen- 
eral Bulow has his head-quarters before Wittenberg, 
the siege of which will immediately commence. The 
garrison of this place has been re-inforced." 



PROCXAMATIOlff. 

The Prince Royal of Sweden to the Saxons, 

"Saxons! 
*<The combined army of the North of Germany has 
passed your frontiers, not to wage war with the people 
of your country, but only to attack its oppressors. 

"You cannot but ardently wish for the success of 
our arms, whose sole object is to revive your ruined 
prosperity, and to restore to your government its 
splendour and independence. We continue to consider 
all Saxons as friends. Your property shall be res- 
pected, the army shall observe the strictest discipline, 
and its wants shall be supplied in the manner the least 
burthensome to the country. Forsake not your houses, 
and pursue your usual occupations as before. 

"Soon will important events deliver us from the dan- 
ger of an ambitious policy. Be the worthy descendants 



2^1 

of the Saxons of old, and if German blood must flow, let 
it be but for the independence of Germany, and not for 
the pleasure of one single individual, to whom you are 
bound by no tie, by no common interest. France is 
fine and extensive enough; the conquerours of antiquity 
would have been content with such an empire. The 
French themselves wish to return within the limits 
which nature herself has prescribed them: they hate 
tyranny, even though they are subservient to it. Ven- 
ture at length to tell them that ye are resolved to be 
free, and these same French will admire you, and will 
themselves encourage you to persevere in your gene- 
rous undertaking. 

*< Charles John, 
"Head-quarterSf Juterhock, 
"iSepU 10, 1813." 



About this period the Prince Royal addressed the 
annexed letter to Buonaparte. This is a document 
which every one must feel gratified in reading: it 
breathes a spirit of the highest dignity, and is a mas- 
ter-piece in point of composition. It must undoubtedly 
ensure to the Prince Royal no less praise for pure and 
chastened feeling, than for clear and lofty views of 
policy. The Prince Royal expresses in beautiful lan- 
guage a manly sorrow for the evils which Buonaparte 
has inflicted on France; and whilst he entreats him to 
be contented with that kingdom, he avows that he has 
taken the field to drive him, if he will not retire peace- 
ably^ behind the Rhine. 



Copy of a letter from his Royal Highness the Prince Royal 
to Buonaparte, 

**As long as your Imperial Majesty acted, or caused! 
others ^0 act against me only directly, I deemed i^ 
proper to oppose to you nothing but calmness or si- 
lence; but now, when the note of the Duke of Bassano 
to M. D'Ohsson endeavours to throw between the 
Ring and me the same firebrand of discord which fa- 
cilitated to your Majesty the entrance into Spain* all 
ministerial relations having been broken, I address 
myself directly to you, for the purpose of reminding 
you of the faithful and open conduct of Sweden, evea 
in the most difficult times. 

"To the communications which M. Signeul was 
charged to make by order of your Imperial Majesty, 
the King caused it to be replied, that Sweden, con- 
vinced that it was only to you. Sire, that she owed the 
loss of Finland, could never believe in your friendship 
for her, unless you procured Norway to be given to 
her, to indemnify her for the mischief which your 
policy had caused her. 

*'With regard to all that is contained in the note o^ 
the Duke of Bassano, respecting the invasion of Pome- 
rania, and the conduct of the French privateers, facts 
speak for themselves; and on comparing the dates, it 
Svill be seen whctlier your Majesty or the Swedish gov- 
erninent is correct. 

*<A hundred Swedish ships had been captured, and 
more tlian 200 seamen put in irons, when this govern- 
ment saw itself compelled to cause a pirate to be seized, 
who, under the French flag, entered our very ports to 



353 

carry off our ships, and to insult our confidence in 
treaties. 

**The Duke of Bassano says, that your Majesty did 
not provoke the war with Russia; and yet, Sire, your 
Majesty passed the Niemen with 400,000 men. 

"From the moment when your Majesty plunged ia- 
to the interiour of that empire, the issue was no longer 
doubtful. The Emperour Alexander and the King, 
already, in the month of August, foresaw the termina- 
tion of the campaign, and its prodigious results: all 
military combinations seemed to guarantee that your 
Majesty would be a prisoner. You escaped tliat dan- 
ger, Sire; but your army, the elite of France, of Ger- 
many, and of Italy, exists no more! There lie, un- 
buried, the brave men who served France at Fleurus — 
Frenchmen, wlio conquered in Italy — who survived 
the burning clime of Egypt — and who fixed victory 
under your colours at Marengo, at Austerlitz, Jena, 
and Friedland! 

*«May your soul be softened. Sire, at this heart- 
rending picture; but should it be necessary to complete 
the effect, recollect also the death of more than a mil- 
lion of Frenchmen, lying on the field of honour, vic- 
tims of the wars which your Majesty has undertaken. 

*'Your Majesty invokes your rights to the friendship 
of the King! Permit me to remind you. Sire, of the 
little value your Majesty attached to it, at times when 
a reciprocity of sentiment would have been very use- 
ful to Sweden. When the King, after having lost Fin- 
land, wrote to your Majesty to beg you to preserve for 
Sweden the Isles of Aland, you replied to him, *apply 
34b 



^54 

to the Emperour Alexander — ^he is great and gener- 
ous;' and to fill up the measure of your indifference, 
you caused it to be inserted in the official journal (J\lon' 
iteur of the 21st of September, 1810,) at the moment 
of my departure for Sweden, that there had been an 
interregnum in that kingdom, during which the Eng- 
lish were carrying on their commerce with impunity. 

<«The King broke off from the coalition of 1792, 
because it was the object of that coalition to partition 
France, and he would have no hand in the dismember- 
ment of that fine monarchy: he was led to that mea- 
sure, a monument of his political w isdom, as much by 
his attachment to the French people, as by a wish to 
heal the wounds of that kingdom. That wise and vir- 
tuous policy, founded on the principle that every na- 
tion has a right to govern itself by its own laws, its 
usages, and its own will, is the very same which regu- 
lates him at the present moment. 

**Your system, Sire, would interdict to nations the 
exercise of that right which they have received from 
nature — that of trading with each other, of mutually 
assisting each other, of corresponding and living in 
peace; and yet the very existence of Sweden depends 
upon an extension of commercial relations, without 
which she would be insufficient for her own subsistence. 

"Far from perceiving in tlie conduct of the King 
any change of system, every enlightened and impar- 
tial man will find in it notlung but the continuation of 
a just and steady policy, which was manifested at a pe- 
riod when the Sovereigns coalesced against the liberty 
of France; and which is now pursued with energy, at 
a time when the French government continues to con- 
spire against the liberty of nations and of Sovereigns. 



n55 

<*I know the good dispositions of the Einperour 
Alexander, and of the cabinet of St, James's towards 
peace — the calamities of the continent demand it, and 
your Majesty ought not to spurn it. Possessed of the 
finest monarchy upon earth, would you be always ex- 
tending its limits, and transmit to an arm less power- 
ful than yours, the wretched inheritance of intermi- 
nable wars? Will not your Majesty apply yourself to 
the healing of the wounds inflicted by a revolution, of 
which there is nothing left to France but the recollec- 
tions of its military glory, and real calamities within its 
interiour? Sire, the lessons of history repel the idea of 
an universal monarchy; and the sentiment of indepen- 
dence may be deadened, but cannot be effaced from the 
heart of nations. May your Majesty weigh all these 
considerations, and at last really think of that general 
peace, the profaned name of which has caused so much 
blood to flow. I was born. Sire, in that fine France 
which you govern;— its glory and prosperity can never 
be indiffferent to me: but without ceasing to form 
wishes for its happiness, I will defend with all the 
powers of my soul, both the rights of the people who 
invited me, and the honour of the Sovereign who has 
condescended to call me his son. In this contest be- 
tween the liberty of the world and oppression, I will 
say to the Swedes — <I fight for you, and with you; and 
the good wishes of all free nations will accompany our 
eflbrts.' 

«In politics, Sire, neither friendship nor hatred has 
place— there are only duties to fulfil towards the na- 
tions whom Providence has summoned us to govern: 
their laws and their privileges are the blessings which 
are dear to them; and if, in order to preserve them, 
one is compelled to renounce old connexions and fam- 



256 

ily affections, the Prince who wishes to perform his 
duty, can never hesitate which course to adopt. 

<'The Duke of Bassano announces, that your Ma- 
jesty will avoid the e^lat of a rupture; hut. Sire, was 
it not your Majesty who interrupted our commercial 
relations, by ordering the capture of Swedish vessels 
in the bosom of peace? Was it not the rigour of your 
orders which forbid us every kind of communication 
with the continent for three years, and which, since 
that period, caused more than fifty Swedish vessels to 
be detained at Wismar, Jlostock, and other ports of 
the Baltic. 

<'The Duke of Bassano adds, that your Majesty will 
never change your system, and will consider this as a 
civil war; which indicates that your Majesty means to 
retain Swedish Pomerania, and will not renounce the 
hope of giving law to Sweden, and thus degrading, 
without runniiig any risk, the Swedish name and char- 
acter. By tlie phrase *civil war,' you doubtless mean 
a war between Allies; but we know the fate to which 
you destiue them. 

«<If the events which have occurred for these four 
months past have induced you to throw upon your 
generals the disarming and the sending of the Swedish 
troops of Pomerania as prisoners of war into France, 
it will not be so easy to find a pretext to shew that 
your Majesty never wished to confirm the judgments 
of the council of prizes; and that you did not make 
particular exceptions against Sweden, even when that 
tribunal decided in our favour. Besides, Sire, no one 
in Europe will misunderstand the blame which you 
^hrow upon your generals. 



%57 

"The note of the King's minister for foreign affairs, 
and the answer which M. de Cabre returned on the 
fourth of January, 1812, will prove to you. Sire, that 
his Majesty had even anticipated your wishes by set- 
ting at liberty all the crews of the privateers. The 
government afterwards carried its consideration so far 
as to send back some Portuguese, Algerines, and Ne- 
groes, who, taken on board the same privateers, called 
themselves the subjects of your Majesty. There could 
not be the slightest reason, therefore, why your Ma- 
jesty should not have ordered the return of the Swe- 
dish officers and soldiers, and yet they still groan 
under confinement, 

<«With regard to the threats contained in the note of 
the Duke of Bassano, and the 40,000 men whom your 
Majesty intends giving to Denmark, I do not think it 
becomes me to enter into discussion on these subjects, 
and the rather because I doubt very much whether 
the King of Denmark can avail himself of that suc- 
cour. 

<«With regard to my personal ambition — ^it is lofty, 
I acknowledge it: it has for its object to serve the 
cause of humanity, and to secure the independence of 
the Scandinavian Peninsula: to attain that end, I con- 
fide in the justice of that cause which the King has 
commanded me to defend, upon the perseverance of the 
nation, and the fidelity of its allies. 

(Signed) "Chakles Johkt." 

We must now return to the active military opera- 
tions carried on by the Prince Royab The attention 
of all Europe was fixed on them: the most sanguine 
hopes werc^ generally entertained that success, in its 



3d8 



fullest measure, would crown his efforts, and they 
have been justified in the event. 



SIXTEENTH BULLETIN. 

AFFAIR AT GORDE. 

'^'Head-quarters at Zerbst, Sept. 2Q, 1813. 

"Geueral Von Puttlitz, who is charged with the ob- 
servation of Magdeburg, is posted at Mockern: he has 
sent several detachments of cavalry to the left bank of 
the Elbe. 

*'Two companies of the regiment Joseph Napoleon, 
164 men strong, with their Chief of battalion, and 
two other officers, came over to our advanced p6sts at 
Biederitz, in the night between the sixteenth and se- 
venteenth of September. They were permitted to re- 
tain their arms, and were taken to the head-quarters 
of his Royal Highness, from whence they will be sent 
to Spain by the way of Stralsund. 

A part of the landsturm of Priegnitz, under the 
command of Major Von Puttlitz, has crossed the 
Elbe, and taken possession of the environs of Seehau- 
sen and Osterburg. He protects the inhabitants of 
the Old Marche of Brandenburg against the requisi- 
tions made by straggling parties, and by the Govern- 
ment of Westphalia. 

"Lieutenant-General Count "Wallmoden having re- 
ceived information that the Prince of Eckmuhl,* 

•Marshal Davoust, Prince of Echmnbl, had directed General Pecheus to inarch from 
Hamburg with five or 6000 men, up the left bank of the Elbe, in order to nanforc^ 
Cuouaparc's army. 



359 

had detached the division of General Pecheux to the 
left bank of the Elbe, passed that river at Domitz, and 
in his march on the Sixteenth, fell in with the enemy. 
General Pecheux had posted himself advantageously 
on the heights behind Gorde. The cannonade cora- 
menced^ the attack made by the tiraillieurs of Lutzow 
and Reiche, and the well combined movements of the 
columns of infantry, forced the enemy to quit the 
heights, and form en masse on the plain. At the very 
moment when our columns had got as far as the 
heights, the cavalry and the Cossacks appeared on the 
enemy's left flank. Notwithstanding this he made an 
obstinate defence, supported a very brisk combat with 
the infantry, and repulse^ several attacks of the caval- 
ry. He was, however, soon brought to give way by 
the artillery, a part of which followed close after the 
infantry. The enemy being repeatedly attacked by 
the infantry, and on several sides, washed to hasten his 
retreat; and from this moment as both the cavalry and 
infantry fell on him, his disorder was complete. The 
enemy's corps would have been totally destroyed, had 
not the intervention of night, and the broken ground, 
saved a part of them. The field of battle was covered 
with the enemy's killed and wounded. We have taken 
eight cannon, twelve amunition waggons, and a greaft 
quantity of baggage. The General of Brigade Meilzin- 
ski, two of General Pecheux's adjutants, and upwards 
of 1000 men, are made prisoners. Even on the fol- 
lowing day, prisoners were brought in from on all 
sides: so that the whole may amount to about 1800 
men. General Pecheux had lost his horse, and es- 
caped on foot. The remains of his division are re- 
treating in disorder on Bleckede, pursued by the Cos- 
sacks under the command of General Tettenborn. 



S60 

«Our loss consists of thirty officers and 400 privates" 
killed and wounded. The Majors Von Lutzow, Firks, 
and Schasser, are wounded: Major Devaiix is killed. 
All the troops under Lieutenant-Gencral Count Wall- 
moden, have vied witJi each other in zeal and bravery 
on this day. The third regiment of the English hus- 
sars, the first of the Legion, and several other battal- 
ions of t]ie English and Russian Legions,* have high- 
]j distinguished themselves. The tiraillicurs of Lut- 
zow and Reiche, took the first gun. The English ar- 
tillery and rocket corps deserve the highest encomiums. 

<'Duringthis attack, the enemy advanced with some 
thousand men on Boitzenberg, but without any eftect. 
General Wallmoden removed liis head-quarters on the 
seventeenth to Danneberg, to be the nearer for observ- 
ing that part of the Marshal Prince of EckmuhPs corps 
d'armee, which had remained on the right bank of 
the Elbe. 

"The grand united army of Bohemia must have 
gained fresh advantages, the official statements of 
which are expected. We know, by private intelligence 
from Leipzig, that in the evening of the sixteenth, 
eight thousand cavalry, two of which were dismount- 
ed, and several dismounted pieces of artillery, had 



* I cannot avoid the satisfaction of here giving Lieutenant-Geneial Wallmoden's oV 
sen-ations on the gallant conduct of the British. 

"•l cannot sufficiently commend the bravery of the third regiment of hussars of the 
King's German legion, so conspicuous in their repeated charges, beaded by their com- 
mander, Major Ku])er; as likewise that of the first hussars of the Russian German le- 
gion on tlie enemy's squares. I lament that the glory which the first of these legioients 
has gained is acquired with so considerable a loss. 

"I should be glad that the attention of his Royal Highness the Prince Regent should 
be draxm upon the conduct ot Major Kuper,in command of this regiment, at the head 
nf which his gallantrv was so very conspicnous." 



261 

iarrived there. The field hospital had been brought 
from Dresden to Leipzig, and a part of it even as far 
as Merseburg^ -«.-: -^r^r.-, 

|»lt'njAfiiM»,<H»HI%Mm-..- 

«The want of forage at Dresden is so great, that 
for some time past 200 horses have daily died there. 

**General Thielmann has made a general, thirty- 
seven officers, and 1200 raen^ prisoners at Weissen- 
fels. On the l4th, the Cossacks took at Wurtzen a 
convoy of waggons laden with corn, which was destin- 
ed for the garrison of Torgau, and was escorted by a 
Saxon battalion. Colonel Von Menzdorf has inter- 
cepted couriers, whose dispatches expose the destitute 
and dispirited condition of the French arniy. 

"General Blucherhashis head-quarters at Bautzen: 
by his right wing he combines his operations with 
those of the united army of the North of Germany; 
and by his left wing he is connected with the Bohemi- 
an army. On having received intelligence that the 
enemy's sixtli corps d'arm^e was marching on Gros- 
senhayn. General Blucher caused the corps of Gene- 
ral Sacken to move forward to Camenz. The van- 
guard of this corps disturbed the enemy the whole of 
the 15th and 16th: the sixth corps d'arniee fell back 
on Dresden, and the first cavalry corps put itself in 
motion to follow the infantry. General Count Tauen- 
zeen was preparing to pursue them. 

"The Wirtemberg General Franquemont had com- 
plained to General Delort, chief of the general staff 
of the fourth corps, that his troojis were always in 
the van when advancing, and in the rear when retreat- 
ing. That general answered him, *You must be con- 
35 



26S 

tent with its being so; it is our interest that you should 
all be killed, for otherwise you would soon be against 
vs.* 

'<I>enmark, which had yielded to the threats and the 
vaunting intelligence of Baron Alquier, on the third 
of September declared war against Sweden, It is 
strange, that in this declaration the hostilities which 
had previously been committed against Sweden, both 
by land and sea, are passed over in silence. We 
must hope that the Danish government, being inform- 
ed of the occurrences in the progress of the war, will 
at length perceive the danger it runs; and, compelled 
by the total derangement of its finances, will take its 
resolution, and acceirt the proposals which will be made 
to it. In the contrary case, and if tliat court will not 
join the common cause until it has already triumphed, 
it will then be no merit, nor be of any utility in obtain- 
ing for it such moderate conditions. The whole North 
sees with concern the delusion of the Danish govern- 
ment: the minister Alquier, who is kept there, must be 
himself astonished at the power and effect of his com- 
mands. At the moment when all the Princes of the 
Rhenish confederacy are preparing to throw off the 
yoke, it is a hard matter to account foi* the subaiis- 
siveness of the court of Copenhagen," 



SEVENTEENTH BTJULETIN. 

"Head-qiiarterSf Zerbst, Sept 22, 1813. 

"General Ho waisky, with his Cossacks, and Gene- 
ral Dobschuss, with four squadrons, which made a 
part of General Tauenzcen's advanced guard, on the 



sea 

nineteenth instant, between Borack and Schwediss, 
met with the first, eighth, and tenth French regiments 
of horse chasseurs, and attacked them so successfully, 
that scarcely thirty men escaped of these three regi- 
ments. Colonel Talleyrand, two Lieutenant-Colo- 
nels, sixteen other oificers, and 500 men, were made 
prisoners, and the rest were either killed or wounded. 

A remarkable circumstance, and which can only be 
attributed to the want of union which prevails in the 
enemy's troops, was that our whole loss consisted in a 
single wounded Cossack. General Dobschuss has oc- 
cupied Cosdorflf and Muhlberg. General Wobeser ob- 
serves Torgau. Two great boats, which came down 
the Elbe, laden with ammunition and clothing for the 
garrison of the latter fortress, have been taken. Cap- 
tain Von Zeunert, who had been sent with thirty men 
of the Landwehr, on horseback, to the left bank of 
the Elbe, has destroyed the entrenchments thrown up 
near Rogatz. The enemy sent from Wolmirstadt 100 
men to prevent this; but Captain Zeunert fell upon 
them, at the head of his thirty men, and after an ob« 
stinate resistance, cut them down. Some prisoners 
were made, who had been all wounded. Captain Zeu- 
nert himself was wounded severely in this action. 

**Colonel Bjornestierna having been detached with 
Swedish troops to the left bank of the Elbe, marched 
on the twentieth to Kemberg, in the hope of surpris- 
ing there a troop of Poles: but it had already left that 
place, and taken the road to Leipzig. The Colonel 
went last to reconnoitre the bridge-head, near Witten- 
berg, and took under the very cannon of that work an 
advanced corps, and a courier with several letters 
upon him. Among these are several from the Govern- 



264 

o«r-General Lapoype, addressed to Marshal Ney, 
Duke of Elchin.^en; to the Duke of Reggio, to Gene- 
rals Regnier, Narbonue, and Margaroii. The con- 
tents of these letters shew that not only the soldiers, 
but even the officers and sergeants of the weak garri- 
son of Wittenberg, are daily deserting. 

"General Count Wallmoden reports, under the date 
of the nineteenth, that General Tettenborn has pursu- 
ed the flying enemy to Bleckede, Brackede, Lunen^ 
burg, Winsen, and even to Harburg; we have every 
where picked up soldiers that had been left behind. 
General Pecheux has made his escape with five or 600 
men, which he collected at Lunenburg, where he ar- 
rived early in the morning on the day after the battle, 
and proceeded on his march to Winsen and Hoptc, 
without stopping. The enemy'g General Osten had 
gone before with a detachment from Harburg to 
Winsen, but left that place when our detached party 
api)roached it. A number of wounded were still laying 
dispersed on the roads. General Tettenborn collected 
them, and sent in besides, ?ome ammunition waggons 
that had been left behind. The number of prisoners 
had increased to 1300 during the pursuit; a pair of 
colours belonging to the third regiment of the line, 
was taken. On the eighteenth, tlie enemy had made 
a strong rcconnoisance from Mollen towards Zarrcn- 
ticn, and, at last, threw himself back on Boitzenburg 
with his right wing. Count "Wallmoden has received 
orders to attack the Prince of Eckmuhl, with his joint 
force. He is to be sup]3orted by 15,000 men of the 
Mccklenberg Landsturnii under the command of the 
Hereditary Prince. 

^*The levics-en-raasse are organizing every where 



265 

on the right bank of the Elbe. This example will 
soon be followed likewise on the left bank of the Elbe; 
and a national tvar will shortly he seen extending from 
the Elbe to the Bhine, similar to that with which the 
liberation of Spain commenced.* The chiefs of the dis- 
tricts wait only for the signal for collecting their forces; 
and this, moment is now not far distant. 

''General Bluchcr has pushed forward a strong de- 
tachment on Konigsbruck. Count Von Tauenzeeii 
has taken possession of Liebenwerda and Elsterwerda, 
and the line behind the Elster. The enemy had broke 
up his camp at Stolzeuhagcn, near Elsterwerda, in the 
night between the nineteenth and twentieth: Jt is esti- 
mated at 4000 men. According to the latest accounts, 
the King of Naples is still at Grossenhayn. 

"The Emperour Napoleon in person, on the t^velfth, 
attacked the post of Hollendorf, in the narrow passes 
of Bohemia, but was repulsed by the Austrian corps 
of Generals Colloredo and Meerveld, with the loss of 
seven cannon, one standard, 4000 prisoners, and the 
General of Brigade Kreutzer, who was taken. f 

*«The united array of the North of Germany has 
taken more than 28,000 prisoners since the end of the 
truce. From the seventeenth of August till the eigh- 
teenth of September, there have passed through Ber- 

• These spirited and admirable compsitions of the Prince Royal of Sweden had 
the most desired effect: they awakened the understandings of thousands to the true 
«tate of affairs: and whilst they augmented his forces they produced an irresistiljje 
ardour in his followers, from which he knew well how to profit. 

t In this attack Buonaparte was at first successful; he obtained possession of the 
important pass of Hollendorff, and of part of the plain beyond, but Prince Schwart. 
zenberg made a general attack on all the posts he occupied, repelled him, and on the 
4eventeei»th the two arnues occupied the same positions they held befrre the advance 
•f Napoleon. 

/ 



266 

lin as prisoners of war, 18,357 common soldiers, and 
299 officers: and upwards of 2000 more were on the 
road to that city: from two to 3000 have remained 
behind sick in the hospitals of Juterbock, Treuenbriet- 
zen, Belzig, and Brandenburg; and the corps d'armee 
under Count Wallmoden, which sends its prisoners to 
Stralsund, has made more than 4000 of them. If we 
add to this number that of the killed, wounded, and 
missing, we may reckon the total loss of the army op- 
posed to that of the North of Germany, at not less 
than 45,000 men, since the seventeenth of August. 

"The prisoners taken by the army under General 
Blucher, and the grand army of Bohemia, amount to 
40,000. We may, therefore, without exaggeration, 
estimate the enemy's loss, since the recommencement 
«f hostilities at more than 100,000 men, and 250 pieces 
of cannon. 

<<If, as every thing gives us room to hope, Bavaria^ 
and Wurtemberg should join the cause of German lib- 
erty, the Emperour Napoleon will not have more than 
150,000 men to oppose the allies. 

The king of Denmark has sent the Prussian minis- 
ter back, and stated as the cause of it, that as Prussia 
is engaged in war with the Emperour Napoleon, the 
presence of that minister could no longer be allowed at 
Copenhagen. This Court endeavours to justify itself 
to the allies on account of its declaration of war against 
Sweden, and pretends to have taken that step, merely 
to evade the incessant demands of Baron Alquier, who 
demanded 10,000 men more to be sent to Holstein. 
In this however, there appears a vast difference be- 
tween the intent and the deed. 



S67 

"f^^^The enemy has not any more fast position on the 
left bank of the Elbe from Wittenberg to Schernbeck. 
His advanced posts are still between the last mentioned 
place and Magdeburg. General Tchernicheff is at 
Bernburg, Major Von Rosenstern at Little Rosenburg, 
and Major Czeezensky at Zoerbig. Detached parties 
have penetrated as far as Halle, where they have put 
themselves in connexion with the corps under General 
Thielmann, and from thence as far as near to Delitsch 
and Billerfield, and on the left wing as far as Egeln 
and Wantzleben. They have been able to make only 
•a small number of prisoners, as they never could find 
the enemy in any considerable force. Major Von 
Lowenstern has taken a transport of 1300 measures of 
oats and other provisions, which were intended for 
Madgeburg. 

«The van-guard of the Russian army, commanded 
by Count Von Woronzoff, is at Acken (on the left 
bank of the Elbe.) The Swedish van guard, under 
the command of General Schulzenheim, is at Dessau. 

<«The Prince Royal has entrusted the siege of Witr 
tenberg to General Bulow." 



EIGHTEENTH BUILETINt. 

"Head-quarters, Zerhst, Sept. 26, 1813, 

<*0n the twenty-first, atbreakof day, two Saxon offi- 
cers appeared at the Swedish advanced posts, before 
Worlitz, and informed them that their battallion would 
come over to our side. Colonel Bjornestiernaj accom- 



S68 

panied by Some hussars, went to the front of the bM- 
talion to give it a reception. Its Commander, Major 
Von Bunaui declared in the name of his whole troop, 
that it requested to fight under the standard of his 
Royal Highness, for the liberty of Germany. This 
battalion is tiie first of the Kinfi;Js regiment; its force 
amounts to eight officers, and 360 men. It entered 
Worlitz with fixed bayonets and drums beating, and 
will bear the name of the first battalion of the King 
of Saxony's Legion. In three days at farthest it 
will be completed to 800 men. The Cossack officer^ 
Obrces, who was detached with thirty men on the 
twenty-third, near Goldwitz took one captain, two 
officers, and forty Saxon dragoons prisoners, after a 
slight engagement. 

"Six Swedish gun-boats, under the command of 
Captain Kruger, have cannonaded the town of Stettin, 
the suburb of Dauern, and the batteries which con- 
nect both those places, with good effect. On the 
twenty-fourth of August, the guns at Dauern were dis- 
mounted. Lieutenant-Colonel Fexmain, his Adjutant, 
a Serjeant-major, and several soldiers were killed, and 
a great number wounded on the enemy's side. On the 
thirtieth August, the gate of Dauern was broke down 
by cannon shot, and on the first of September the fire 
was directed against the town itself. The boats had 
a few men killed or wounded in these affairs. 

"To draw oif the attention of the garrison of Wit- 
tenberg from the side where the trenches w'ere opened, 
ahd therefore to lessen our loss, General Bulow re- 
ceived orders to bombard the place from the opposite" 
side. At two o'clock in the afternoon of the twenty- 
fourth, he caused the suburbs to be attacked. The ju- 



diciouS disposition made by Genpral Hirclifeldt, 
caused the attack to be attended with complete sue* 
cess. The suburbs were taken, and the enemy driven 
back on all points^ we had only a few men wounded, 
liot a sin,^le one killed. The attack does great honour 
to General Hirchfeldt. The trenches were opened on 
the side of Luthersbrunn, in the night between the 
twenty-fourth and twenty-fifth. The bombardment 
commenced on the same night, and several places 
were set on fire. The fire continued from ten o'clock 
in the evening till five in the morning, the fire was 
perceptible from the steeples of Leipzig and Dresden. 
At the same time a second parallel was opened on the 
side of the Ckstle. Count Woronzoff's cavalry 
keeps Halle; Querfurth, Eisleben, Bernburg, and 
Halberstadt are garrisoned. A detachment has been 
at Quedlenburg. A part of this cavalry has formed a 
junction with the great Bohemian harbour, and is 
inarched into the rear of General Lefebvre, who was 
skirmishing with General Thielmann. Every thing 
is in the greatest confusion at Leipzig. This city can 
no longer raise the contributions of money, provisions, 
and horses, which are demanded from it on all sides. 

**The people are reduced to such a degree of misery, 
that the authorities, who carry the commands, have 
every thing to fear. The French soldiers are tired 
and weary of a war without an object, which they call 
the coffee and sugar war, 

'^General Tchernicheffis gone with 3000 horse on a 
private expedition. 

"Major Hell wig of General Bulow's corps, has, on 
36 



2f0 

the left bank of tlie Elbe, opened a communication with 
the van guard ef General Schulzenheim, at Dessau. 

*<The Field Marshal Count Stedingk causes consi- 
derable works to be thrown up, above Roslau, and be- 
tween the Elbe and Mulde, General Baron Winziu- 
gerode is forming the town of Aiken into a fortress. 

«The military government between the Oder and 
the Vistula has placed the whole of the Landsturm on 
the right bank of the Oder, under the orders of the 
General commanding the sieges of Stettin and Kus- 
trin. This Landsturm will form a mass of about 
55,000 men, in a line of about seven German miles. 

*«The Landsturm onr the left bank of the Oder will, 
in the same extent, produce an equal number of men. 
This force is certainly not necessary, in conjunction 
with the corps of the line, to hasten the surrender of 
those places. Consequently, in a line of fourteen 
German miles, there is already organized a mass of 
one hundred thousand burghers, who are all ready to 
iightfor the protection of their homes. 

**When Magdeburg shall be enclosed, the Land- 
sturm, of that province will be called out; at evei-y 
step that the allied army moves forward it will find 
masses to assist it. 

"The letters received from Dresden state, that the 
Prince of Neufchatel is very much displeased, and that 
he has made tlic most urgent remonstrance to prevail 
on the Emperour Napoleon to make peace. Had his 
councils been followed, humanity would have had less 
to bemoan." 



S71 

HINTETEENTH BULLETIN. 

f^Head-quarters, Zerbst, Sept. 30, 1813. 

•^^On the twenty-seventh September, the enemy com« 
menced making his retreat from Grossenhayn, to cross 
the Elbe at Meissenj and it is asserted that he is even 
preparing to evacuate Dresden. 

"Deserters assure us, that the military magazines 
of that city are already burnt, and that the inhabitants 
find themselves exposed to the most dreadful misery. 

<<Geiieral Count Tauenzeen, without the least de^ 
lay, detached his light cavalry in pursuit of the ene- 
my: strong detachments are intended for the left bank 
of the Elbe. That general's infantry has happily 
joined Blucher's corps d'armee: the head-quarters of 
the latter were removed to Esterwerda on the twen- 
ty-eighth. General Benningsen has been at Zettau 
since the twenty-fifth. By the united activity of the three 
corps, it is hoped the enemy will soon be forced back 
into the country between the Elbe and the Saale. 

"WitteHiiberg continues to be strongly bombarded. 
In the night between the twenty-seventh and twenty- 
eighth the town vvas on fire in several places; a tower 
of the castle was on fire and fell in. Exclusive of the 
bombs, rockets were likewise used under the very 
able direction of the English Captain Boguc. 

'*The garrison answered our attacks with their ar- 
tillery, but entirely without effect: they may perhaps 
attempt a sally, but General Bulow is before that for* 



tress with 30,000 men, and if it should be necessary, 
can be strengthened with upwards of 40,000 men, 

<*The distress in Magdeburg has reached its utmost 
height. Upwards of one hundred families who were tO" 
tally without sustenance, have left the city; a great 
part of the garrison, which is composed of all nations, 
is sickly. The animosity of the Saxons and Westplia- 
lians against the French military has broken out into 
violent disturbances, they have fired on each other 
with small arms, and the French have even been ob- 
liged in their defence to turn the cannon on the muti- 
neers. The Emperour Napoleon has given his gene-* 
ral orders to take Dessau, let it cost what it will. In- 
formation of this was received in sufficient time to give 
Major-General Schulzenheim timely notice to evacuate 
the place, and retire by degrees upon the works at the 
tete du pont. This was performed on the twenty-se- 
venth, between twelve at noon and two p. m. The 
enemy did not undertake any thing against General 
Von Schulzenheim. Colonel Bjornestierna, who was 
at Worlitz, received orders to fall back on the right 
bank of the Elbe. The day before yesterday, the party 
covering the workmen at the tele du pont reconnoitred 
nearly as far as Dessau. Those posts of the enemy who 
had ventured out of the city were drove into the streets, 
and the reconnoitring i)arty returned behind the en- 
trenchments. In this skirmish wp had twenty men 
killed and wounded, 

"We soon after received information that the enemy 
at Dessau had received reinforcements, and was ad- 
vancing against the fete du pont. Field Marshal 
Count Stedingk sent Colonel Bjornestierna against 
him with 1000 infantry, some cavalry, and two pieces 



2T^ 

of artillery. The enemy hastily retired into the town,, 
and shut the gates; a few young officers and soldiers, 
led away by too much bravery, threw themselves, in 
despite of the enemy's shower of btdlets from the hous- 
es and walls, on a gate, and endeavoured to cut it open 
with axes, but nails and iron bands rendered this im- 
possible. Colonel Bjornestierna ordered his troops to 
fall back to the tete du pont: when he had reached the 
distance of 100 yards, the enemy opened the gate, and 
fired on him with three pieces of artillery. The co- 
lonel halted, returned the fire with his artillery, and 
marched on the enemy, who returned back into the 
town, and fastened the gates after them. Our loss con- 
sisted in two officers killed, and some wounded, and 
three or four privates killed and about forty wounded. 
Colonel Bjornestierna had three horses killed or wound- 
ed under him. In the evening the enemy again left the 
town, and took his direction towards the bridge across 
the Mulde, which was entrusted to a battalion under 
the command of Colonel Adlercreutz. This brave 
officer crossed the bridge, attacked the enemy, and 
drove him briskly back into the town, the gates of 
w^hich were then closed. At nine o'clock yesterday 
morning, the enemy shewed himself with a corps of 
seven or 8000 men, in the vicinity of Oranienbaum, 
between the Mulde and the Elbe. As we had drawn 
our posts in, the enemy shewed symptoms of marching 
against the entrenchments, and forcing them. 

Sketch of Military Events form the 1st of September to the 1st of October 1813, 

Pnnted copies of the following statement were thro^Tn into the towns in poisession 
•f the French garrisons, by means of the Bascbkir arrows, employed in the army of the 
yriiice Royal: 

"Berlin, October 9, 1813. 

«In the month of August the French armies attempted to invade at once Mecklen. 
iMirg, Swedish Pomerania, the Middle-Mark, Silesia, and Bohemia. In the month of 
Sq>tember, after vain efTorts, repelled on all sides, they were driven across the £lbej 
near Hamburg, wedged into a comer of Lu8ace,driven up to the rigljt bank of the Elbe, 



'^<<Licutenaiit- General Baron Sandals put himself at 
the head of three battalions, we4it out of our lines, and 
straight upon the enemy: he overthrew him, and drove 
him briskly upwards of a quarter of a German mile 
back. As this general had received orders to return 
hack to the tete du pont, he executed them with such 
precision as could not have been excelled on the place 
of exercise. 

"The fire of musketiy against the tiraillieurs con- 
tinued some hours, and the enemy undertook nothing 
farther. According to the report of the country peor 



expelled fiom Bohemia viith consideraUe loss of men and cannon, and not only dis- 
turbed iu their lines of communication between Dresden, Altenliurg, Leipzig and Er- 
furt, but those lines more than once broken and intercepted. 

"Towai-d the end of the month the combined armies had passed the Elbe at all points. 
The victory of Gorde (sixteenth of September) opened to the corps of General Wallrao. 
den the Old Mark, Luneburg, and the route of Hanover and Bohemia; the victory of 
Dennevitz (the sixth of September), made the Prince Royal master of the Duchies of 
Anholt, ami other provinces formerly Prussian, Hessian, and of Brunswick; opened to 
him the gates of Dessau, Halberstadt, Halle, Merseburg, Brunswick, Cassel; and iq 
fine, the victory of General Blucher, at Bischofswerda, (twenty-second of September,) 
secured to him the passage of the Elbe at Elster, his march upon Leipzig, by turning 
AVittenberg, and his conuuunication mth the army of the north of Germany. 

"The Russian and Prussian armies, immoveable in the portion whicli they had 
chosen in Bohemia, from Toplitz to the Elbe, awaited the enemy in the fatal valley of 
Culm, received him with courage, drove him back witli intrepidity as often as he dared 
to descend from the mountains, wasted him with famine, demoralized him, and inces- 
santly drove him back upon Dresden; which, from being a point whence he attacked, 
now became to him a point of retreat. In the mean while the Austrian array extended 
itself, on one side, as far as Freyberg, Chemitz, and Altenburg; and on the other, to- 
•wanls Tluiringiia, and Bavaria pushed forward strong detachments, and covered pow- 
erful diversions operated by partizans as brave as fortunate,— Colomb at Frankfort, 
Thielmann at Naumburg, Platoff at Altenburg, and >Jensdorf at the gates of Leipzig. 

"Where was Buonaparte during the whole of September.' At Dresden, and its 
vicinity; again at Dresden and its vicinity; perpetually at Dresden and its vicinity. 
He sent his sick and wounded to Leipzig and Erfurt; burned (by accident, as was prfr 
tended, but designedly as we know) his magazines at Dresden; kept the king of Sax- 
ony and his family at Dresden, to give himself the semblance of security, and make 
of Dresden his Paris, his Germany, his Europe. It was from Dresden tliat those bags 
of k-tlers were dispatched, which being intercepted and published, have comnxini- 
cated just ideas of the true situation of the Fiepcb army and of the disposition of the 
troops. 



2^5 

jlle the enemy has lost upwards of 600 men. We had 
one officer killed, ten wounded, and about 300 privates 
killed and wounded. 

<'Field Marvshal Count Von Stediiigk would have 
passed the night in the tete du pont; and it required 
all the persuasion of his Royal Highness the Prince 
Royal to prevail on him to abstain from that resolu- 
tion. 

'^Lieutenant- Colonel Merevitz, who had been de- 
tached as a partisan to support the operations of Gen- 



Besides, from the twenty-third of September, the retreat of that army was begunj 
on the twenty-eighth the Emperour, the King of Saxony, and the Royal Family, 
escorted by the guards, quitted Dresden, taking the only route which remained to 
them— that of Leipzig. 

"The treaty of alliance concluded at Toplitz, between Austria, Russia, and Prus- 
sia—the negotiations opened with Bavaria— the unequivocal movements of the gi'and 
combined army towards the Maire— the siege of Wittenberg resumed with vigour,in 
which were used the formidable Congreve rockets — the junction of the army of Blu- 
cher with the Prince Royal's, have proved to Napoleon the necessity of retreat more 
effectually than his minister and generals had hitherto been able to do. 

"The feeble attempt near Dessau necessarily failed.— The Prince Royal and Gene* 
ral Blucher passed the Elbe at the same time, in the early part of October, and are in 
line before Leipzig, ready to give battle and attack the enemy. 

"Russia, Austria, and Prussia, have mutually guaranteed their States on the footing 
of 1805; furnishing each other 60,000 auxiliary troops, and setting out with the un- 
changeable principle of not permitting a single French bayonet to remain in Ger- 
many. 

"Already the sceptre of the King of Westphalia is broken in pieces ; the city of Cas- 
sel,through the instrumentality of General Tchemicheff, has placed its keys in the 
hands of the Prince Royal. The old order of things succeeds to the most oppressive 
anarchy. 

"At London, the news of the successes in Germany, and of those in Spain, were re- 
ceived almost at the same time. From that capital we learn, that on the thirtietli 
of August, St. Sebastians was taken by assault; Soult beaten on the thirty-first: that 
on the ninth of September the citadel capitulated; and that Suchet had i-azed and aban- 
doned Tarragona. 

"The trenches are opened before Dantzig, Stetten, and Glougau. Their garrisons 
are destitute of necessaries; they have many sick. Even Magdeburg is ill provisioned. 
Napoleon is even placing the fortresses on the Rhine in a st^te of defence." 



S7« 

eral Tettenborn, has forced himself into Brunswick, 
surprised the troops there, and made one colonel and 
400 officers and soldiers prisoners. 

**The Russian Captain Barotzi was attacked at 
Halle, by troops superiour in numbers to his own, but 
that brave officer manoeuvred so well, that he drove 
the enemy back, and made some prisoners. 

«A detachment that was sent against Mersburg, 
found that town already evacuated by the enemy. — 
General Count Woronzoff, having learnt that the ene- 
my had turned himself towards Cothen, caused the 
Captains Orescott and Lowenstein to march against 
him with a detachment of Cossacks. They threw 
themselves on three squadrons of Polish Uhlans, over- 
threw them, and took the commanding officer and forty 
men prisoners. 

«'The Emperour Napoleon's communication with 
France is cut off to that degree, that his messengei*s 
are obliged to be escorted by whole divisions. It was 
hitherto only the light troops that carried on this kind 
of warfare; but latterly the inhabitants of several dis- 
tricts have begun to follow the example of the Span- 
iards and Russians, in making common cause with tlie 
military of the Allies. 

"The desertion from the enemy*s army is very 
great — thirty or forty men daily come over to us. 

"Wc have intercepted several dispatches from 
Count Yon Durnotb, the Danish Minister at the 
Court of Saxony, to M. Von Rosencrantz. As these 
were intended to give the Danish Court the needful 



information concerning the state of affairs at Dresden, 
care will be taken that they shall arrive at their des* 
tination.'* 



TWENTIETH JUllETlK. 

Uead-qiiarters at Dessaiif Oct 4, 1813, 

**The Prince Royal has this day transferred his 
head-quarters to this place. 

"The attempt made by the enemy on the twenty- 
ninth of September to carry the works, scarcely trac- 
ed out, of the bridge of Roslau, was more fatal to him 
than had been supposed. The officers and soldiers 
made prii^oners, the deserters and inhabitants of the 
country, coincide in estimatin,^ their loss at 1500 men, 
at the lowest calculation. From Seven to 800 men 
were buried here. General San dels occasioned him 
this loss v^ith only three battalions, 

''General Blucher, by one of those marches,^ of 
which history scarcely furnishes an example, and 
which his enthusiasm for the liberty of his country 
could alone suggest, advanced, with the greater part 



• The just nnd honourable meed of praise bestowed by the Printe Royal on this 
grand movement of Marshal Blucher, is highly creditable to the heart and understand? 
ingof his Royal Highness; The attention of Europe was riveted at this moment td 
the movements of these two distinguished chiefs, and the Prince Royal, divested of all 
sentiments of rivalship, and only anxious to testify his earnestness, in the cause, be= 
stows oni the vetei^an marshal tho^e enconiiiims that are due to him. At a period when 
tuch a movement «ras least expected by the enemy, Marshal filucher broke up from 
Bautzen, and although obliged to carry along with him pontoons, he marched with 
such rapidity, as to reach in three days Elster, situated near the confluence of the river 
of 'hat name with the Elbe; and passing the latter river, defeated the corps cflTO= 
mended by General Bertrandi— J. P. 

37 



278 

of his army, from the environs of Bautzen to £Ister$ 
and though he had to carry with him a bridge equip- 
age, he effected the passage in as short a time as a 
simple traveller could have done. After passing the 
Elbe, he attacked the fourth corps of the enemy's ar- 
my, commanded by General Bertrand, on the third of 
October, near TTartenberg, put it to rout, killed a num- 
ber, drove it from all its entrenchments, and took six- 
teen guns, seventy harnessed caissons, and 1000 pris- 
oners. 

"Lieutenant-Colonel Lowenstern, with a small de- 
tachment of Cossacks, fought against upwards of 2000 
of the enemy in the streets of Bernburg. After a 
conflict of two hours, and the enemy having been rein- 
forced with artillery, the town was abandoned, but 
retaken next day. The skill and courage displayed 
by the Cossacks on this occasion, as well as on all 
preceding ones, does them the greatest honour. These 
undaunted troops are not only the eyes of the army, 
but they likewise fight in the ranks, break squadrons, 
attack squares of infantry, swim over rivers, and put 
themselves into the enemy's rear, where they spread 
dread and disorder. 

The Russian army this day crossed the Elbe at Ac- 
ken. General Winzingerode has caused his van- 
guard, under the command of Count Woronzoff, to ad- 
vance to Cothen. 

"The Town of Acken vijill in a short tin)e bp so 
well fortified, that it will require a regular siege to 
take it. It is a point on the left bank which the enemy 
has neglected to occupy, and from which the allied ar- 
my will now derive essential benefit. 



<*The Swedish army having thrown a bridge of 
boats over the Elbe, at Roslau, passed the river this 
morning at day-break, and again moved upon Des- 
sau — Its advanced posts extended to Raguhn and Jon- 
itz, and its junction with General Blucher's army is 
accomplished.* Marshal Ney's army left Dessau and 
Jonitz at five o*clock this morning: its rear-guard was 
vigorously pursued, and some prisoners have been tak- 
en. 

**It will still require five or six days before the 
works at Roslau can be completed. They are traced 
out upon a fine plan, which does great honour to Gen- 
eral Sparre. 

«<The third Prussian corps d'arm^e, under the com- 
mand of General Bulow, is to cross the Elbe to-mor- 
row, as will likewise General Count Tauenzeen, with 
his corps. General Thumen will remain before Wit- 
tenberg. This General is to continue the siege with the 
same vigour which he has before shewn at Spandau. 
Should Wittenberg fall into the hands of the allies, 
they will be masters of the Elbe, as this fortress will at 
once cover Berlin, and at the same time serve as a de- 
pot for the allied armies. 

**A traveller arrived here from Cassel states, that 
General Tchernicheff, arrived there on the twenty - 
eighth, took the citadel, and liberated the state pris- 
oners. The confirmation of this intelligence is ex- 
pected. 

"On the day before yesterday, his Royal Highness 

^Together, they formed an army of 125,000 men. 



@80 

tJie Prince Royal reviewed the Saxon battalion which 
carae over to the allies. These troops have a very fine 
appearance: they have expressed their resolution, of 
serving the cause of Grermany, and their native coun- 
ti-y."* 



•rVTENTY-FIEST BtTLLBTlN. 

*'HeadrqnarterSf Dessau, October 6, 1813. 

«*The enemy retires in the direction of Leipzig.f-r=r. 
^\\e head^quarter of Marshal Ney were, on the night 
of the fourth and fifth at Bitterfeld. Major Czec- 
zensky, in pursuing the enemy on the right bank of 
the Mulda, was engaged during the whole of the day 
of the fourth, with the cavalry of the rear guard j he 
was surrounded several times, and he killed and took 
a great number of tlie enemy. Captain ObreskoflT, 
who was sent with eighty Cossacks to the right bank 
of the Mulda, in order to form a communication with 
the advanced guard of General Blucher, in pursuing 
the enenjy between Oranieiibaum and Golp, made 
thirty-eight prisoners. General O'Rourke has marched 
to Zerbig, and Lieutenant-Colonel Melnikoff to Lands- 
berg. He and Lieutenant-Colonel Chrapowitzky had 
yesterday a brilliant affair between Landsberg and 
Pelitsch. The French General Fournier had marched 
out of Leipzig with a division of Cavalry and four 

•This bulletin concludes wth nnnouncing the junender of the toMii and citadel 
of St. Sebastian, and the defeat of Soult on the tbii'ty-fitst of August, and the Gist of 
September. 

tBiionaparte quitted Dresden on thp seventh of October, ?nd after mpving in a con- 
trary direction to Leipzig;, viz. upon Wittenberg and the bridges by which the Prince 
Boyal and Mnrshal Blucber's corps had crossed, suddenly altert'd his route, and moved 
to Leipzig. His tint movement had, however, the etfect of compelling General Ta«" • 
enzecn to fall back precipitately on Berlin, and obliging the Prince Royal and tJ^ 
fjbfii Blucher to repass the Saalu and the £llster.— J. P. 



pieces of cannon, in order to oppose tliem. The enc. 
my, notwithstandinj^ bis superiority of force, was 
overthrown, and pursued to the gates of Delitsch, with 
a corjsiderable loss in killed and wounded, besides one 
hundred and fifty prisoners, one of whom was an offi- 
cer, Lieutenant-Colonel Lowenstern continued to har- 
rass, in front of Bernbourg, the enemy's cavalry, 
which, though superiour in numbers, made demonstra- 
tions of retreating upon Magdeburg. 

"Major Baron D'Essen, aid-de-carap to the Prince 
Royal, and the Russian Captain Krasnakutzki, have 
proceeded with a regiment of Cossacks to Delitsch. 
Colonel Stael has pursued the enemy with a great deal 
of vigour. He distinguished himself by his bravery 
and skill in the affiiir before Dessau, on the 26th of 
September. 

"The expedition* of General TchernichefF has been 
attended with brilliant success. Never were boldness, 
talents, and valour, more eminently displayed than on 
this occasion. The general, after three glorious com- 
bats, entered Cassel on the 30th of September, by ca- 
pitulation. He marched on the 24th to Eisleben, the 
25th to Rosla, and avoiding a Westphalian corps un- 
der the orders of General Bastinellej', posted at Heilli- 
genstadt, he made a lateral movement, passed through 
Sondershausen, and arrived on the 26th in the eve- 
ning at Muhlhausen. Thence he marched in one day 
to Cassel. The King received notice of his arrival 
only two hours before. Investing the city on every 
side, he ordered the Cossacks and the hussars of Izum 
to attack the enemy's battalions, stationed at Betten- 

* This sueceasful expedition to the capital of the new iungdom of AVestphalia con> 
f^dersfbly harassed the enemy, and cut off his suppUeii 



faausen, witb six pieces of cannon. By a brilliant 
charge, the guns were taken, the enemy dispersed, and 
more than 400 prisoners made. Colonel Bedriaga 
was killed on this occasion. This officer, who possess- 
ed uncommon valour, is regretted by all the Russian 
army. The fugitives were pursued into the city; but 
as the streets were barricadoed tlie Russians at length 
fell back. 

<«The King collected two battalions of guards and a 
thousand horse, and fled by the road leading to Frank- 
fort. Colonel Benkendorff charged four squadrons of 
light horse, forming part of the escort, not one of 
whom escaped; he took 250 men and ten officers. 
General TchernichefF was then apprised that Genera! 
Bastineller was advancing against Cassel, He 
marched during the night of the 28th upon Melzulgen^ 
in order to meet him with his entire force. The hostile 
corps dispersed, no more than twenty cuirrassiers and 
two guns were taken. The troops that followed the 
King dispersed in like manner; more than 300 of them 
joined General Tchernicheif, and marched with him 
on the 30th against Cassel. He made use of the artil- 
lery captured from the enemy, and cannonaded the 
town. The Leipzig gate, witli the cannon planted 
there, was carried by Colonel Benkendorff. At that 
moment General Tchernicheff offered terms of capitu- 
lation to the general of division Alix. He obtained a 
free passage for the French and Westphalian troops, 
with their arms and military baggage. These troops 
were to be escorted by Cossacks, two miles from Cassel. 
The city was occupied on the evening of 30th by the 
Russians: the joy of the inhabitants was beyond all 
description. The greater part of the Westphalian 
troops are ranging themselves nnder the banners of 



283 

the allies; more than 1500 were already enrolled at 
the departure of the courier; and the confusion given 
to the kingdom of Westphalia is of the most violent 
description. 

**It is at this moment that the North of Germany 
ought to justify the hopes which Europe entertains of 
its patriotism, and of the courage of its inhabitants. 

"The advanced guards of the combined army of the 
North of Germany, and of the army of Silesia, are 
only half a league distant from one another. 

*<The grand army of Bohemia has debouched into 
Saxony. The Hetman PlatofF had, on the twenty- 
ninth of September, at Altenburg, an affair with (xen« 
eral Lefebvre Desnouettes, who commanded 8000 men, 
amongst whom are five brigades of the cavalry of the 
guard. This corps was completely beaten, and lost 
more t han 1000 prisoners, five guns, and three stand- 
ards, and was pursued to Zeitz. The corps of Gene- 
ral Thielmann and of Colonel Mentzdorff had joined 
in the pursuit. 

«The Prince Royal saw defile yesterday through^ 
this city a part of the third corps of the Prussian 
army, under the orders of General Bulow; and to-day 
the whole of the fourth corps, commanded by General 
Count Tauenzeen. His Royal Highness has beheld 
again with pleasure, these brave troops, and has been 
highly satisfied with the state of their equipment, and 
with their noble military apppearance." 



IRS* 

The head-quarters of the Prince Royal of Sweden's 
army were at Rothenburg, on the eleventh October, 
and his positions then extended from Wittcn to Halle, 
upon the Saale and Mulda. The mo-\'ements were 
now planned for surrounding Leipzig, and they were 
executed in a bold and scientific manner. 

Buonaparte was concentrating his army at Leipzig, 
and at Wartzen and Eutenberg; the King of Saxony 
following with his family. 

On the night of the eighth, the Emperour of Russia 
left Commotau, followed by the reser\e of his army, 
and advanced by rapid and successive mai^hes to Al- 
tenberg, where the Austrian, Russian, and Prussian, 
reserves were assembled on the eleventh and twelfth, 
and where the Emperour Alexander and Prince 
Schwartzcnberg's head-quarters were established. 
The remainder of the grand army had proceeded 
down the Elster by Gheist and Pegau to Lutzen, On 
its left, and to Borna and Espenheim on its right. 
Marshal Blucher having moved to Halle, a direct 
communication m as opened through Merseberg with 
that officer and the Prince Royal of Sweden, who 
accordingly advanced further into Saxony, and form- 
ing a position with the grand allied armies of Silesia 
and Bohemia, the whole encompassed Liepzig. 

The Prince Royal had conceived that a movement 
of the whole allied force to the left bank of the Saale 
would force Buonaparte either to a general battle, or 
would be the most effectual mode to embarrass and 
harass his retreat. The extent of success which at- 



385 

tended tlte -bold conceptions of his Royal Highness, 
and the zealpiis co-operation of Marshal Blucher and 
Prince Schwartzenberg, is to be seen in the following 
Bulletins. In pursuing the plan of the Prince Royal, 
the Allies were enabled completely to encircle Buona- 
parte's army, at a time when it was in the greatest 
distress from the exhausted state of the magazines, 
and although that ambitious character might succeed 
in breaking through this circle, yet the Allies had 
every reason to expect, and their expectations were 
justified in the eyent, that with it would follow the 
destruction of a principal part of his army. 



TWENTY-SECOND BULLETIN. 

*' Head-quarters at Leipzig, Oct. 20, 1813. 

"The great army of Bohemia, the united armies of 
North Germany, of Silesia, and that under the com- 
mand of General Benningsen, are all marched to- 
wards Leipzig, where Napoleon had concentrated his 
whole force. After the memorable battles of the six- 
teenth and eighteenth of October, the city of Leipzig 
was taken by storm on the nineteenth, at one o'clock 
in the afternoon. The Emperours of Austria and 
Russia, the King of Prussia, and the Prince Royal, 
met together in this city. A more particular account 
of this remarkable warlike occurrence will be given 
without delay.* 

• Vide following Bulletin. 

38 



28Q 

"The Emperour Napoleon is in full retreat with the 
remains of his army, which, according to all accounts, 
does not exceed the number of 75 or 80,000 men. He 
is briskly pursued. The belief in his invincibility is 
destroyed. The German and Polish troops forsake 
his standards in great numbers. The liberty of 
Germany and the independence of Europe 
WERE GAINED AT LEIPZIG. The loss of the Frcuch 
army exceeds 60,000 men, fifteen captive generals, 
among whom are the chiefs of entire corps d'armee, 
Regnier and Lauriston — upwards of 15,000 prisoners, 
250 pieces of artillery, 900 ammunition waggons, and 
a number of eagles and standards, are the result of 
this glorious day. The enemy has left 23,000 sick and 
wounded behind him at this place." 



On the first day's engagement, the French were the 
assailants. General Blucher was attacked by Mar- 
shal Ney with the utmost desperation to the north- 
ward of Leipzig, whilst Buonaparte, in person, at 
the same moment, attacked the Allies under Prince 
Schwartzenberg, to the southward. The efforts of the 
Allies were crowned with success. Ney was totally 
defeated by Blucher. 

Murat had been sent forward from Leipzig with the 
elite of the French cavalry to clear the way for Buona- 
parte and his pcrscmal staff— to a certain extent he 
succeeded — and, but for the assistance and coming up 
of General Benningsen and his reserve, Buonaparte 
would have carried off the greatest part of his army 



on that day. The seventeenth was accupied in mUi- 
tary preparations on both sides, and the Allied armies 
having completed their movements, upon the eight- 
eenth, boldly moved forward and became the assail- 
ants. The most complete success attended the Allied 
arms — they carried all before them, and Buonaparte 
was driven into Leipzig; from whence he fled on the 
following morning, the Prince Royal having assaulted 
the X)lace. The Emperour of Russia, the King of 
Prussia, and the Prince Royal of Sweden, each head- 
ing their respective troops, entered the town at dif- 
ferent points, and met in the great square, amidst the 
acclamations and rejoicings of the people. 



TWENTY-THIRD BUtLETUf. 

*' Head-quarters f Leipx>ig, Oct. 21, 1813. 

"The movements and marches of the combined ar- 
my, which have preceded the grand results just ob- 

PRUSSIAN MILITARY REPORT. 

"Leipzig, October 20, 1813, 
"Yesterday, at eight o'elock, the Prince Royal, with his whole army advanced 
against Leipzig, 'wheretheenemy received us witli a very warm reception of oannon 
balls and grenades from a battery which he had preserved for the purpose of prevent- 
ing a too vigorous pursuit. This was, however, soon silenced. About an hour before 
the city was totally evacuated, the Prince Royal was informed by the Emperour of 
Russia, that the King of Saxony, who was in Leipzig, had, by a flag of trace, surren- 
dered at discretion, and had only requested that the inhabitants and their property 
might be spared; and that his majesty the Emperour of Russia had returned for 
answer, 'That the King of Saxony might make himself easy concerning the city of 
JLeipzig and its inhabitants, but that in his own personbis Imperial Majesty could only 
see an hostile-minded prince.' ' 

*His Royal Highness the Prince Royal was at the same time informed, that the 
iEinpeniur Napoleon had, in the true style of a protector of the Rhenish confederacy, 



S88 

taihed, have necessarily suspended the pHblieation of 
the operations, in order to present at once the plans 
and their consequences. 

<«TheEmperour Napoleon quitted 'Dresden the -fifth; 
of October, and marched in two columns upon Mei*- 
sett, one taking the left, and the other the rig'ht bank 
df the Elbe. Arrived at Wurtzen, he halted his 
troops. This movement, which was four daysi too 
late, has been fatal to the French army, and has des- 
troyed in two battles the spell of Napoleon*s invinci- 
bility. The armies of Silesia and of the North of 
Germany wer." on the left bank of tl»e Elbe. They 
possessed, in fact, neither a post, nor a strong place on 
either bank; but strong in their union and the bravery 
of their soldiers, they had formed the resolution of not 
repassing the river without giving or receiving battle. 

**The Prinee Royal and General Eliicher, wishing 
to get promptly out of tiiis precarious situation, united 
with Prince William of Prussia, the seventh of Octo- 



•ent word to the unfortunate Augustus, 'that he must make the best terms he could 
with the allies, for be could give him no assistance.' " 

[Here follows nn account of the Emperours of Austria and Russia, the King of Pru»> 
sia, and the Priiice Ro} al of Sweden, entering by the different gates, meeting in the 
markeb-place, and exchanging mutual salutations.] 

"Twenty-six French generals are prisoners. At the head of them are Generals Reg- 
Tiier and Laur'iston; General LaCour Maubourg had one of his feet taken off here, and 
vet Kapoleou forced hijn to leave the place, in consequence whereof, he died not far 
from hence. Three other French generals have this day had limbs amputated. The 
Prince Royal's ai'my has taken and found 130 cannon. The loss of the combined army 
is considerable, but certainly cannot be put in competition with the total destruction 
of Napoleon's whole force. The Swedish army has sustained the least loss. The 
number of baggage and ammunition waggons taken, are calculated at 1500. We have 
at I*ipzig 23,000 French soldiers, sick and wounded, besides wliich 30,000 have been 
taken prisoners. A great number of gun carriages have been found, besides those 
already mentioned, and 3O,C00 muskets, packed in chests, have fallen into our 
handi." 



389 

berf atMiihlbeckxJn the-MuIda. They determined to 
march upon Leipzig. Tiie Einperour Napoleon, wish- 
ing to outstrip tliem, formed the design of attacking 
the army of Siliesia. He marched against it with the 
intention of penetrating its line, and preventing it from 
regaining the bridge it had constructed at Warten^ 
berg. This movement was foreseen^ and tlie army of 
Sy«sia passed from the right to the left bank of the 
Miilda. In the night of the tenth and eleventh, the 
two armies quitted their positions at Zorbig, Jessnitz, 
and Radegast, in oi'der to place themselves behind the 
Saale: the army of Silesia marched upon Halle, and 
that of the North of Germany upon Rothenburg and 

AU3TRIAN MILITARY REPORT. 

Leipzig, October 10, 1 8 13 , 

fOn the niDeteeth, at day.break,the enemy still held in force Zwey Naundorff, and 
the ■wind.mill in front of the suburbs towards Sonnewitz. The general attack was 
renewed at seven in the morning, and the enemy driven towards Leipzig. Here he 
sought to gain time to -withdraw his troops, artillery, and baggage; for which pilrpose 
he sent a flag of truce, proposing to deliver up the rest of the Saxon ti-oops, on condi- 
tion that Leipzig should not be attacked, and that the French garrison, with all the 
propei'ty of the army, should be aUowed freely to depait. 

., '^This proposal ^vas rejected. The allies were already masters of tlie suburbs: the 
enetpy wished still to continue the defence of the city, into which the allies were al- 
ready pouring their fire. The Saxon troops who were in the place suddenly turned 
their arms against the French; a Baden regiment of infanti7 followed the example of 
the Saxoni; the affray became universal, tlie enemy were thrown into the greatest 
confusion; every individual thoTigbt only of liis own escape, and the allies were mas- 
ters of the city." 

After enumerating the tropliies of these signal victories, the Report proceeds as 
follows:— 

"Prince Poniatowsid, who on the sixteenth had been appointed a French Marshal, 
■when he found that he could not escape by a bridge over the Elster, endeavoured to 
cross the river on horseback: and, according to the account of one of his Adjutants, 
made prisoner, was drowned in the attempt. 

"This evening eight Polish infantry regiments have abandoned the enemy's stand- 
ards, and come over to the allies. 

"The field of battle, three miles in length, and as many in breadth, on which there 
)hai ^een nearly three full days fighting for the indepeodeuce of Germany and the re- 



Bernburg. The Emperour Napoleon, astonished at 
this march, arrested his movement upon the Elbe, 
and afterwards took the resolution of continuing it. 
He seized upon Dessau, the works and bridge of Ros- 
lau, detached two corps of his army upon Wittenberg, 
and caused General Thumen, who commanded the 
blockade of the fortress, to be attacked. That Gene- 
ral, after a valiant defence, fell back upon the corps 
of General Taucnzeen, who had re-crossed the Elbe. 
The enemy immediately marched upon Roslau, and 
attacked General Tauenzeen, who, in conformity to 
his instructions, made a retrograde movement, to co- 
ver Berlin. The enemy moved upon Acken, with the 
design of destroying the bridge. The troops posted 
on the right bank defended the approaches of certain 
batteries scarcely completed, but were at length forc- 
ed to retire to the left bank of the river, and carried 
off some boats that composed the bridge. They sus- 
tained no loss. That which they suffered in the pre- 



pose of Europe, is so thickly bespread with the dead bodies of the eneray, that the loss 
of the French army at all points may be computed at 40,000 men, at the lowest. The 
total loss of the allies, in killed and wounded, may be estimated, at the bighe.$t, at 
10,000 men. 

'-The three allied Monarchs were, during tbe decisive battle of yesteiday, on the 
heights between Wachau and Probsthayda, the eye-wituesses of the extraordinary va- 
lour of their troops. 

"His Imperial Majesty himself invested, on the fielcl of battle, Field ^Marshal the 
Fdnce of Schwartzenberg, Commander in Chief, with tlie great cross of the order of 
Maria l"heresa; tds Majesty the Emperour of Russia was also pleased to confer upon 
bis Highness the order of St. George, first class; and his Majesty the King of Prussia 
the order of the Black Eagle. 

"Upon the General of cavalry, Blucher, who, by the wisdom and energy he had di«» 
played in the mnstdifncult operations during the course of the campaign, had contri- 
buted so much to the glorious results ot these battles, his Imperial Majesty was pleased 
to confer the grand cross of the order of Maria Theresa; and upon General Gneisenau, 
the Quarter-Master-General of that officer, the cross of Commander of the same or- 
der. 



"The combjmed army is in motion to pursue the enemy." 



291 

ffous affairs, in the vicinity of Dessau, Cosurg, and 
Wittenberg, did not amount to more than 400 men. 

'^Information having been received from every 
quarter, that the Emperour Napoleon had assembled 
a considerable force between Duben and Wittenberg, 
in order to debouche through that city upon Magde- 
burg, and extricate himself from his hazardous posi- 
tion, the army of the North of Germany re-crossed 
the Saale on the thirteenth, and moved upon Cothen, 
with the design of following the march of the Empe- 
rour's army, and of attacking it wherever it might be 
met with. Intelligence had been received that the 
fourth and seventh corps of the second corps of caval- 
ry were upon the right bank of the Elbe, the eleventh 
at Wittenberg, the third at Dessau, and the old and 
young guards at Duben. The Duke of Kagusa was 
at Delitzseh. The enemy, the same evening, attack- 
ed the town of Acken. The division of the Prince of 
Hesse Homberg moved in that direction; but General 
Hirschfeldt had already succeeded in repulsing that 
part of the third French corps which had made the 
attack. 

Reply of the Emperour Alexander U the King of Saxcrafs Offer of Capiivlatiom 

"His Imperial Majesty gave his answer aloud, in the hearing of many hundred of&. 
cers, with remarkable force and dignity. He said in substance, that an army in pur* 
suit of a flying enemy, and in the hour of victory, could not be stopped a moment by 
considerations for the town; that therefore the gates must be immediately opened, 
and in that case the most strict discipline should be observed: that if the German 
troops in the place chose to join their countrymen in this army, they should be received 
as brothers: but that he considered any proposal sent, while Napoleon was at band, as 
extremely suspicious, as he well knew the enemy he had to deal with; tliat as to the 
King of Saxony personally, who bad taken a line of deiennined hostility, he gave no 
answer, and declined making any communication. 

"The heavy cannon and columns of attack were ordered to advance. In the meau" 
while the Prince Royal attacked and stormed the city on the other side, a Prussian 
corps being the first in the square."— lorrf CathcarCs Despatdi, Oct. 19. 



29S 

#^**Thc bridge of Acken was already re-establislied, 
and every preparation made to cross the Elbe by 
main force, when accounts arrived that theEmperoiir 
Napoleon had made several corps of his army retro- 
grade, and had re-assembled his troops between Duben 
and Wurtzen. Tiie presence, however, of two corps 
between Dessau, Wittenberg, and Duben, excited a 
suspicion that he intended to strike a grand blow, af- 
ter having changed his plans. But being continually 
watched, all his movements were ascertained, and 
those of the army of the North of Germany were re- 
gulated accordingly. That army marched on the 
iiftcentli October, upon Halle. The Emperour con- 
ceiving that it was going to re-cross the Saale, con- 
centrated his army in the vicinity of Leipzig. The 
grand army of Bohemia commanded in chief by 
Prince Schwartzenberg, approached that city at the 
same time, and every moment rendered the situation 
of tlie French army worse. On the sixteenth Octo- 
ber, the army of the North of Germany, instead of 
marching opon the Saale, moved to the left, and di- 
rected its march upon Landsberg. General Blucher, 
who had already marched upon Schkenditz, moved 

Tlte annexed brief description of t}ie misery proceeding only fromthe first day^s battle, it 
given in a narrative published fur t/ie relief of t/ie xinfortunate Inhabitants of Leip- 



"Weeping Mothers, with beds packed «p in baskets, leading t«'o or three start 
naked cliildren by the hand, and with perhaps another infant at their back; fathers 
seeking tlieir wives and families; children, who had lost their parents in the crowd; 
trucks witl> sick persons forcing their ivay among the thousands of horses; cries of rail" 
ery and despair in every quarter:— such were the heralds that most feelingly pro- 
claimed the presence of the warriours who have been celebraied in so many regions, 
and whose imposing appearance has been so often admired. All these unfortunates 
crowded into the filthy corner formed by the old hospital and the wall at the Kohl- 
garter's gate, 'llieir cries and lamentations were intermingled with the moans and 
groans of the wounded who were going to tlie hospital, and who earnestly solicited 
bread and relief. A number of French soldiers, probably such as had loitered in the 
i-car, searched every basket and every pocket for provisions; they turned without cer. 
craony tlic sleeping infants out of the baskets, and cared not how much the enraged 



S93 

upon Freyroda and Radefeld, where he, the same day, 
attacked the enemy, and compelled liim, after an ob- 
stinate engagement, to fall back behind the Partha. 
He took, upon this occasion, 2000 prisoners, an eagle, 
and thirty pieces of cannon. 

*«Every account announced that the Emperour Na- 
poleon would attack the army of Silesia next day with 
the greatest part of his united forces. The army of the 
North of Germany put itself in march on the 17th, at 
two in the morning, from its position at Landsberg, 
and at an early hour, arrived upon tlie heights of Brei- 
tenfield, where it encamped. The day was tranquil. 
The following morning Prince William of Prussia and 
General Blucher joined the Prince Royal. His Roy- 
al Higliness was informed, that the army of Bohemia 
would attack the enemy that day, and he resolved to 
take a vigorous part in the attack. He concerted with 



mothers lacerated tTieir faces in return. The scenes of horrour changed so 
quickly, that you could not dwell more than half a minute upon any of tliera. The 
tendevest heart hecame torpid and insensible. — One tale of woe followed on tlie heels of 
another.— 'Such a person too lias heen murdered ! Such an one's house has been set 
en fire!— This man is cut in pieces; that man has been transfixed with the bayonet!— 
Those poor creatures are seeking their children!' Such was the intelligence brought 
by every new fugitive. If you asked the French wlien the march would be over, you 
received the consolatory answer— 'Not before six o'clock in the morning.' During the 
night, the sounds of drums and trumpets incessantly announced the arrival of fresh 
regiments.— At length, about midnight, the bustle somewhat subsided; at least, so far as 
regarded the marching of troops. I now seized the favourable moment, and felt myself 
as it were a new creature: when Iiaving made my way through tlie crowd, once more set 
foot ia the city. Thus the morning and the evening completed ttte first day ofhorroun'" 

From the same interesting Pamphlet, the foUoiniing paragraph is extracted, it being a 
further proof, if proof ivere necessary, of the guile which distinguisltes the Rider of the 
French Nation, and which has so often materially contributed to his success:— 

"I have forgotten to mention a <areumstance worthy of notice in the history of tliis 
day. It is this; thatin the midst Of tlie cannonade all round Leipzig— when the whole 
city shook with the thunders of the artillerj-; and the general engagement had, strictly 
speaking, been just commenced— all the bells of the churches were rung by French com. 
nand, to celebrate the victory won in the forenoon. Such an instance was certainly 
never afibided by any late battle which Imd scarely begun, and terminated in the total 
and defiisive overthrow of him, who had already fancied himself mounted in triumph 

39 



294 

General Bluclier, that the army of the North should 
proceed upon Taucha, to form a junction by its left 
with the army of General Benningsen, and that 
General Count Langerson's corps should act, during 
the day, under the orders of his Royal Highness. A 
cannonade was heard a few moments after, in the di- 
rection of the army of Bohemia, and the troops 
marched in order to pass the Partha. General Bu- 
low's corps, and General Winzingerode's cavalry, 
which formed the extreme left, proceeded upon 
Taucha. The Russian army, whose advanced guard 
was commanded by Lieutenant- General Count Wo- 
ronzoffy forded the stream, near Grasdorff. The 
Swedish army passed between that place and Plaussig. 
Already, on the preceding evening, General "Winzin- 
gerode had caused Taucha to be occupied, and took 
in that place three officers and 400 men. The enemy, 
however, perceiving all the importance of that point, 
had dislodged the Cossacks, and occupied the village 

upon the cat of victory. This day, however, the engagement still rpraained undecided: 
the French had stood as if rooted to the spot,— the allies, like rocks of granite. The 
former had fought like men, the latter like lions. Both parties inspired by mutual 
respect, desisted from hostilities during the night." 

On the twenty-fifth of October, the Prince Royal of Sweden addressed the follow- 
ing letter to Lieutenant<General Sir Charles Stewart, his Britannic Majesty's Minister 
Plenipotentiary to the court of Berlin:— 

«ThezeaI for the service, the talents, the valour, which you hsTre shewn on all ep> 
portanities in the service of the good cause in which we are engaged, and of which 
j-ou lately gave so many proofs in the battles near Leipzig, on die eighteenth and nine^ 
teenth instant, have induced me to request for you of the King, my master, the honours 
of a Grand Cross, and oommander of the royal military order of the Sword. I reserve 
to myself the delivering of tlie insignia of this order into your hands. 

"I deem myself happy in giving you herewith a proof of the well-deserved esteem 
which I bear to yau, and of the value which I attach to the services rendered by youc 
Excellency. 

"I have to conclude with prajing God to keep you, Lieutenant-Genetal Stewart, 
under his most high and gracious protection. Your well affectioned, &c. 

(Signed) "CHARLBS JQHlt. 

"From my Head-quarters, at Arfem, Oct<35, 181»." 



in considerable force. General Baron Palilen, brave- 
ly supported by Colonel Arnoldi, of the horse artillery, 
who had lost a leg on this occasion, made a brilliant 
charge, seized the village, surrounded two Saxon bat- 
talions that were there, and made them prisoners. 
The cavalry then advanced, and effected a junction 
Tvith the advanced guard of General Neipperg, form- 
ing part of an Austrian division, commanded by Gene- 
ral Count Bubna, belonging to General Benningsen's 
army. The Hettman Platoff arrived at the same time 
with his Cossacks, and, a few moments after, his Im- 
perial Highness the Graad Duke Constantine. 

*'The enemy, who had abandoned the village of 
Paunsdorff, vigorously attacked it again with infantry 
and several batteries. General Bulow's corps, which 
just came up, was ordered to attack that village. It 
was carried with great bravery. The enemy commenc- 
ed a brisk cannoi>ade. Several Russian and Prussian 
batteries returned the fire, and covered themselves 
with glory. The Russian cavalry, with Generals 
O'Rourke, Manteuffle, Pahlen, Bekendorff,and Chos- 
tak, at their head, remained several hours exposed to 
the fire of 100 pieces of artillery, with the most deter- 
mined contempt of death, which appalled the enemy. 
Towards three o'clock he began to debouche his mass*- 
es from the villages of Sellershausen and Volkmers- 
dorff. The PrinceRoyal ordered the Russian cavalry 
to charge. The movement of the enemy was slack- 
ened, and he lost four pieces of cannon, and re-entered 
the villages. A few moments after General Manteuffla 
was struck with a cannon ball, of which he is since 
dead. This accomplished officer is universally regretted. 

**Our columns were moving upon Leipzig, whea 



strong masses of the enemy were seen debouching 
between Molka and Englesdorff, threatening to turn 
our left. General Blucher who happened to be plac- 
ed before the village of Stetteritz, ordered his troops 
to maJce a front movement, which was executed by 
General Count Neipperg, and the enemy was thus 
placed in the presence of his division. A Saxon offi- 
cer of artillery had already passed over to us with 
ten pieces of cannon.* The troops placed at that 
point did not appear to be sufficiently numerous. It 
was necessary to reinforce them. The Prince of 
Hesse Homburg was ordered to proceed thither, and 
he executed his movement with the precision and re- 
gularity of a parade. General Buh)w charged and 
seized the villages of Stuntz and Sellershausen, which 
were strongly occupied and protected with cannon. 
The resistance was obstinate, the Prussian troops 
maintained themselves there during the nigbt, in de- 
fiance of the repeated efforts of the enemy. This, at- 
tack decided the results of the day on that side. The 
enemy, however, continued to advance upon our left, 
in order to arrest our march upon Leipzig. As there 
was a want of artillery in that direction, the Prince 
B-oyal directed the Russian General, Baron de AVitt, 
to invite, on his part, the officer conimanding the Sax- 
on batteries, to lend the use of his artillery until the 
arri\ al of the batteries of the army, which were de- 
tained in the defiles. This officer having already 
served under the Prince, hastened to do so, and the 
ten pieces intended a little before to consolidate the 
slavery of Germany, were afterwards employed to se- 
cure its independence. This exaujplc should prove to 



• A considerable body of M'estphalian and Saxon troops joined the Allies, and acy 
cepted the offer of the Prince Royal to head them, as they turned their giuis against 
tlte eneqjy. 



^97 

conquerors, that the terrour which they inspire termi- 
nates with the power which has created it. Colonel 
Diederichs, commanding the Russian artillery, attach- 
ed to General Bulow's corps, rendered great services 
on this occasion. Captain Bogue, commanding the 
English rocket company, signalized himself in like 
manner. This brave officer was killed, and is univer- 
sally regretted.* The rockets produced thje most de- 
cisive effect. 

«<The enemy in the mean time caused a very con- 
siderable corps to debouche from Leipzig by his left, 
which moved against General Count Langeron. This 
General, who, with his troops, had displayed great 
valour in carrying the village of Shonfeld, found it ne- 
cessary to support General Count de St. Priest, who 
had no artillery. Twenty Swedish pieces, under the 
orders of General Cardell, arrived at full gallop, the 
point secured, and the enemy, by a brisk and continual 
^re, was compelled to make a precipitate retreat, 

"Night coming on^ the army bivouacked. 

''Generals Suchtelen, Steward, Vincent, Pozzodi, 
Borgo, and Krusemark, were, for several hours, ex- 
posed to the hottest fire. The first had a horse killed 
under him. 

«<At five o'clock the next morning, the enemy having 
retired from Volkmersdorff into the suburbs of Leip- 
zig, the Prince Royal ordered General Bulow to carry 
the city. The latter directed the Prince of Hesse 
Homburg to make the attack; the division of General 
Borstell was intended to support it. The gate was 

• Fide following note. 



S98 

pi'otected by a pallisade, and the walls were loopholed; 
notwithstanding which, our troops forced their way 
into the streets, when the Prince of Hesse Homburg 
was wounded by a ball. The enemy having occupied 
all the houses, the conflict became very violent, and 
remained undecided for some time. A reinforcement 
of six Swedish battalions which had come up, with a 
battery, rendered essential service. Major Dobelen 
was killed; he is a great loss to the army. The Swe- 
dish artillery was directed by Major Edenhelm, who 
was severely wounded. General Borstell took the 
command in the place of the Prince of Hesse Hom- 
burg. He arrived with fresh troops; the city was 
maintained; and such of the enemy as did not surren- 
der were put to the sword^ 

"Five battalions of Russain chasseurs of the advanc- 
ed guard of General Woronzoff, had in the mean time 
advanced to the support of the Prussian and Swedish 
troops, in the attack of the city. The fourteenth regi- 
ment of chasseurs, led by Colonel Krasowski, carried 
the gate called Das Grimmische Thor, and took sev- 
eral guns. 

''General Baron Aldercreutz was at every point 
where the danger was greatest, inspiring the troops 
by his valorous example. 

**As the enemy was obliged to make his retreat by 
the defiles of Pleisse, the baggage, cannon, and troops, 
pressed pell mell through the narrow passes which re- 
mained open to them, and which were soon choaked 
up by this general disorder. None thought but of 
making their own escape. The advanced guards of 
the army of Silesia, and of Benningsen, entered 4- 



299 

most at tlie same time through the other gates of the 
city. The Emperoiirs of Austria and Russia, and the 
King of Prussia, and the Prince Royal, met in Leip- 
zig after this brilliant victory. 

"The results of the battles of Leipzig are immense 
and decisive. Already, on the day of the thirteenth, 
the Emperour Napoleon had begun to put his army 
in retreat by the roads of Lutzen and Weissenfels. He 
did not quit this place in person until ten o'clock in the 
morning of the nineteenth.* Finding that a fire of 
musketry had already commenced at tlie Ranstadt 
gate, towards Lutzen, he was obliged to depart by the 
Pegau gate. The allied armies had taken fifteen Gen- 
erals, and amongst them Generals Regnier and Lau- 
riston, commanding corps d'armee. — Prince Ponia- 
towski was drowned in attempting to pass the Elster. 
The corpse of General Dumourestier, Chief of the Staff 
of the eleventh corps, was found in the river, and more 
than 1000 men were drowned in it. The Duke of 
Bassano escaped on foot. Marshal Ney is supposed 
to have been wounded. More than 250 pieces of can- 
non, 900 caissons, and above 15,000 prisoners, have 
fallen into the hands of the Allies, besides several 
eagles and colours. The enemy has abandoned here 
more than 23,000 sick and wounded, with the whole 
of the hospital establishment. 

"The total loss of the French army must amount to 
near 60,000 men. According to every calculation^ 

* "The capture, by assault, of the town of Leipzig, this jnorning; the magazines, 
artillery, stores of the place, with Uie King of Saxony, all his court, the garrison and 
rear-guard of the French army, all the enemy's wounded, (the number of which exceeds 
thirty thousand}; the narrow escape of Buonaparte, who fled fron Leipzig, at nine 
o'clock, the allies entering at eleven; the complete deroute of the French army, who 
were endeavouring to escape in all directions, and who are still surrounded, are the next 
objects of exultation."— Sir Charles Stewart's dispatch of the nineteenth Octoberi 



300 

the Eitiperoiir Napoleon has been able to save from 
the general disaster not more than 75,000 to 80,000 
men. All the Allied armies are in motion to pursue 
him, and every moment are brought in prisoners, bag- 
gage, and artillery. The German and Polish troops 
desert from the standards in crowds; and every thing 
announces that the liberty of Germany has been con- 
quered at Leipzig. 

"It is iiiconceivable how a man, who commanded in 
thirty pitched battles, and who had exalted himself by 
military glory, in appropriating to himself that of all 
the old French Generals, should have been capable of 
concentrating his army in so unfavourable a position 
as that in which he had placed it. The Elster and 
the Pleisse in his rear, a marshy ground to traverse, 
and only a single bridge for the passage of 100,000 
men and 3000 baggage waggons — every one asks, is 
this the great Captain who has hitherto made Europe 
tremble??' 



TWENTY-FOURTH BUILETIN. 

^'October 22, 1813. 

"General Wesselcliikoff attacked at Weissenfels the 
rear-guard of Murat, and took 2000 men and fifteen 
cannon; 1500 remained killed on the fidd of battle. — 
The Prince Royal removed his head-quarters to 
Merscburg this morning. The Emperour of Russia 
has his head-quarters at Eissenberg, from whence it 
will be removed forward to Jena. The King of Prus- 
sia is gone to make a visit to Berlin." 



SOi 



•vet,' Myst^} 



TWENTY-FIPTH BULLBTIN. 

"Head-quarterSf Mulhausen, October 28, 1813, 

"The Prince Royal yesterday removed his head- 
quarters toMulhausen, to which place he had advanc- 
ed by Merseburg, Artera, and Sondershausen, 

**The great results of the battle of Leipzig become 
more and more distinguishable every day. The army 
of the Emperour Napoleon is retreating by forced 
marches, and every day suflfers considerable losses.— 
It has taken its march towards Erfurt,* but according 
to the latest accounts, that place is in possession of the 
Allies. 

**General Blucher closely follows the enemy at eve- 
ry step, whilst the great army of Bohemia, whose 
head-quarters were on the twenty -fourth at Weimar, 
is moving on the side of his left wing; — and the army 
of the North of Germany is partly on the side of the 
right wing, and in part, stretches beyond his wing. 
Generals D'York and WasilschikofF, whose corps form 
the van guard of the army of Silesia, have attacked 
the enemy's rear guard, near Weissenfels and Frey- 
berg, and taken upwards of 4000 prisoners, forty pie*" 
ces of artillery, and a number of ammunition and bag- 
gage waggons. General Bubna has taken 600 pris- 
oners from the Imperial Guards at Buttelstedt: and 
General Benningsen, who marched by the way of Bi- 
bra to Rastenburg, has found a great number of strag- 

• "The French urmy, thoughvictoTwtu,is OTTiving at Erfurt,osiidefeaUdormifv/atiU 
have arrived tAer«."— Buonaparte's Letter to hu £nipr«M. 

40 



303 

glers, and of deserted cannon and ammunition wag- 
gons all along the road. On the road to Erfurt, the 
Emperour Napoleon himself gave orders to blow up 
more than 6000 powder-waggons. 

»'* Colonel Chrapowitsky took possession of the city 
of Gotha, on the twenty-second, where he made pris- 
oners the French Minister, Baron de St. Aymon, sev- 
enty three officers, and 900 men. He blew up eighty pow- 
der waggons. He then joined, at Molschieben, with 
General Ilowaisky, who had been detached from the 
grand army, to get round the French army. Colonel 
Benkendorff, at the same time, disturbed the enemy 
on the whole of his march to Erfurt; was continually 
skirmishing with the cavalry of General Sebastiani, 
and took a number of prisoners. General Tcherni- 
cheff, to whose corps the aforesaid partisans belong, 
has marched to Etesnach, to be beforehand with the 
head of the enemy's column. 

"On the nineteenth, the Emperour Napoleoii had 
his head-quarters at Mark-Ranstadt; on the twentieth, 
at Weissenfels; the twenty-first, at Eckartsbergej 
early on the twenty-third he was at Erfurt, from 
whence he went to Gotha. Intercepted letters state, 
that the higher roads in the whole neighbourhood were 
covered, and, as it were, sown with numbers of runa- 
ways, without arms or clothing. 

"Marshal St. Cyr has made a movement from Dres- 
den towards Targau, probably with the intent of draw- 
ing the garrison of that fortress, and Wittenberg, to 
his corps, to reach Magdeburg and from thence re- 
treat to France. Several considerable corps d'arm^e 
are advancing from all sides towards each other, and 



303 

joining, to engage him, and cut him off. General 
Tauenzeen is in the vicinity of Roslau, and will draw 
the corps of Generals Von Hirschfeld and Von Thii- 
men to his own. 

<*General Count Tauenzeen follows the movements 
of General St. Cyr, and General Benningsen, whose 
army had already joined that of the Prince Royal, 
will cause the corps of General Dochtoroff to take the 
same direction, and will take on himself the command 
of all the Russian and Prussian troops which are des- 
tined to act against the enemy's corps. The corps of 
General Strogonoff will join the army of the Prince 
Royal. General Count Wallnaoden observes the mo- 
tions of General Davoust's army, who most probably 
will no longer delay his retreat, 

"Xlie total loss of the allied army of the North 
of Germany, in the battles of Leipzig, does not ex- 
ceed from two to three thousand men in killed and 
wounded. That of General Count de Langeron has 
been more considerable. This General gives the 
greatest praise to the brave behaviour of Generals 
Koptzewitsch, the Count de St. Priest, and General 
Rondzewitsch, as likewise to all the officers and sol- 
diers under his command. 

** In the battle of the eighteenth October, the Lieu- 
ten ant-General Sir C. Stewart himself planted the 
English rockets* in the midst of the briskest fire, and 



*Sir Charles Stewart, in his despatch of the 19tb October, makes the following db- 
serration:— "Some Prussian battalions of General Bulow's corps were warmly en- 
gaged, also at Paunsdorff,and the enemy were retiring from it when the Prince Royal 
directed the rocket brigade under Captain Bogue, to form on tlie left of a Pniisian 
battery, and open upon the columns retiring. Congreve's formidable weapon had 
Kiarce accomplitbed the point of paralyzing a solid square of infantry, which after one 



304 

voluntarily undertook the performance of several of 
his Royal Hij^hness's orders, which he executed to the 
entire satisfaction of the Prince Royal. 

"Generals Tawast and Lowenhielm have distin- 
guished themselves. Tlie first brought up two batte- 
ries of twelve cannon to a point which was very briskly 
pressed by the enemy, and thereby contributed to se- 
cure this flank of the army. General Sureraain him- 
self directed the Swedisli artillery, which fired on the 
gate of Leipzig, and afterwards on the streets of 



fire delivered themselves up, (»s if panic struck) when that gallant and deserving 
officer, Captain Bogue, alike an ornament to his profession, and a loss to his friends 
and country, received a shot in the head, which deprived the army of his services.— 
Xaeutenant Strangways, who succeeded in the command of the brigade, received the 
Prince Royal's thanks for the services they renderedi" 

I have|also much pleasure in subjoining the follomng copy of a letter written on the 
Cth January, 1813, from his Royal Highness the Prince Royal of Sweden to Mrs. Bogue, 
through his Excellency Mr. Tliomton, the British Minister, transmitting to 5ier the 
Cross of the Swedish Order of the Sword, which Captain Bogue would have received 
had his life been happily spared; and accompanied by the additional flattering token 
Of his Royal Highness's estimation of Captain Bogue's merits, and of the important 
services rendered by him, whilst in command of the British royal rocket brigade, during 
the campaign, and particularly by the capture of three thousand French, who surren- 
dered to his own small forc^ at PaunsdorlF; and by the kind and munificent present 
to his family of ten thousand dollars. 

(TRANSLATION.) 

"Madom," 
"The King my Sovereign has deigned to authorize me to confer the Cross of his 
Military order of the Sword, not alone on the Swedish officers, but on those of the al- 
lied tioops who distinguished themselves in fighting for the common cause. 

"The manner in which your husbind has conducted liimself during the campaiga, 
has well merited this reward of the brave. 

"He died in the field of honour; and the plains of Leipzig, the last witnesses of his 
courage and of his intrepidity, saw him perish before I could confer on him this order 
of knighthood. 

«I conform myself, Madam, to the customs of the English nation, of which Sweden 
isthe faithful ally; and I transmit to you the decoration uf the Order of which your 
husband has rendered himself so worthy. May it be in your hands a consolatory re. 
membrance of his loss, as it is a testimony of his valour, and of the personal esteem 



that city. The cavalry of General Winzin.^erode is 
pushed forward as far as Vach, and follows the ene- 
my's motions, who appears in part to take the direc- 
tion of Wetzlar. This General shewed the same tal- 
ents and bravery in the battles of Leipzig, of which he 
had before given so many proofs. The Russian in- 
fantry have sustained their ancient fame, by a steadi- 
ness which always distinguishes them. Generals \Vo- 
ronzoff, LaptiefF, Harpe, and "Wonitsch, have, by their 
conduct, given his Royal Highness the highest satis- 
faction.'* 



with which he had inspired me. I pray God, Madam, to hless and to keep you in his 
holy protection. 

•CHARLES JOHN. 
"At my head-quarters at Kiel, 
"eth January, 1814." 

Letter of Mr. James (son of Sir IValler James, Bt.) AiA4e-camp to Lieutenant-General^ 
Sir Charles Stenvart, K. B, to John Hanson, Esq* communicating the mdancholy par. 
Oculars of Captain Bogue's death. 

Bath, Nov. 11, 1813. 
"Dear Sir, 
"A duty, most melancholy in its nature, and peculiarly painful to myself, has de- 
Tolved on me, in making you acquainted with the death of Captain Bogue; which 
melancholy event happened on the eighteenth of October, in the victory gained by the 
allies over the French in the neighbourhood of Leipzig. 

"Out of respect to the feelings, and for the sake of the family of Captain Bogue, I 
have to regret that this melancholy task has not fallen to the lot of one who, in enter- 
ing into the mournful particulars, would be better able than I am to shed, in their 
greatest lights, those drops of consolation that are most undoubtedly to be derived from 
am esit the most honourable and the most glorious. But if the affliction of relatives 
and the regret of friends are to be soothed by the reflection, that a duty has been 
honourably performed, by the conviction that every act of posthumous justice must 
be rendered to those exertions, which contributed in no slight degree to the success of 
that memorable day, then are the friends of Captain Bogue in possession of a cons jla- 
tion so often wanted in similar events. 

"The rocket brigade, under the command of Captain Bogue, had been attached in 
its general movements to the body guard of the Prince Royal of Sweden, under the 
command of Colonel Urwetsom, with, however, the understanding, that on days of 
action it was to be more at liberty than those corps, and subjected only to the direc- 
tion of Captain Bogue. Conformably wth this arrangement, at tlie commencement 
of the action on the morning of the eighteenth, Cajitain Bogue addressed himself to 
General Winzingerode, commanding the advance of the Prince Royal, expressing 
bis desire to see the enemy, with permission to engage. The general, much struck 



306 



The ridiculous tone of outrageous invective,* as* 
sumed in the French journals about this period against 



with the gallantry and spirit of the address, granted, as g^ard, a aquadron of dragopnv 
aod requested Captain Bogue to follow his own plans and judgment. Captain Cogue 
Igst no time in approaching to the attack of the village of FaunsdoriT then in pos- 
session of five enemy's battalions, upon whom he opened, in advance of the whole, a 
mpst destructive fire. This was returned by musketry, and for some time a very 
hot combat ensued, when the enemy, unable to withstand the well-directed fire of 
Captain Bogue's brigade, fell in confusion and began to retreat. Captain Bogue seiz- 
ing this moment, charged at the head of the squadron of cavalry; and the enemy, ter- 
rified at his approach, turned round, and taking off their caps, gave three huzzas, and 
every man, to the number of between two and 3000, lurrendered to the rocket brigade^ 
not, I believe, exceeding 200 men. The intelligence of this success being communi- 
cated to the Prince Royal he sent bis thanks to Captain Bogue for such eminent lervi- 
ces, requesting, at the same time, that he would continue his exertions; and the btfc 
gade proceeded, in consequence, to the attack of (I believe) the village of Sommev- 
feldt, still farther in advance. Sir C. Stewart accompanied the brigade, and I was of 
the party. The situation taken up in flank of the village was exposed to a most 
heavy fire, both of cannon ball and grape shot, from the enemy's line, and from the 
riflemen in the village: a ball from the latter soon deprived us of the exertions of poor 
Bogue; it entered below the eye, and passing through the head, caused instantaneous 
death. 

"You will see, I am sure, how impossible it is for me to say any thing that can do 
justice to suchjactions. I had long been happy in the acquaintance and friendship of 
Captain Bogue, and no one, I am sure, more sincerely than I do, regrets the loss of « 
friend and a man, whom I was most proud to have it in my power to call a brother 
soldier. 

"It remains for me to fell you, that the body was found a few hours afterwards, and 
decently interred the next morning at the town of Taehau, about two miles from 
Leipzig; all the brigade attending with the deepest regret the melancholy ceremony. 

"With regard to the horses and effects of Captain Bogue, I hope you will have the 
goodness to make me, without ceremony, the instrument, on my return, for putting 
into execution any arrangement you may desire. 

"I trust the sufferings of Mrs. Bogue are not so severe as you dreaded they would 
be. May I request to have my respects presented to Iier, and believe me, 
"Dear Sir, 
"Most truly and faithfully yours, 

(Signed) "JOHN JAMES. 

'^ToJolin Hanson, Esq. 

"Rookery, Woodford." 

"Extract from an Adddress to the Empress. 

"No," said the Municipal Council of Goumay," "No, that nation which Napoleon 
has elevated to so high a degree of splendour and glory, shall not be conquered; which 



307 

the Prince Royal of Sweden, although it must have 
been felt by his Royal Highness as a compliment, in- 
asmuch as it proves how very materially his exertions 
w^ere considered by the French government to have 
contributed to the success of the allied army, was re- 
plied to in a most eloquent letter* from Leipzig, to 
Buonaparte, in which he is reproached with the basest 
ingratitude to the Prince Royal. 

The author commences this letter by observing, that 
the article published in the Moniteur of October 14, 
1813,f contains *«a tissue of calumny and vulgar abuse 



already has made so many sacrifices for its independence; which carried its arm's 
among its enemies but to insure the civilization of Europe, and which associates its 
destinies with that of an hero, whose posterity will at a future day confirm its hap- 
piness. 

"A traitor whom France had nourished in lier bosom, now forgetting her favourst 
marches in the ranks of her enemies. The audacions man, decorated with a title 
which he alone owes to the eclat of the victories of our arms— clothed with a power 
which he ought to employ for supporting the true interests of Sweden, connected with 
the French cause— advances in the guilty hope of being one day able to tear the bo- 
som of his country. A perfidious compact, contrary to the rights of all nations, and 
by which England has disposed to the nation whom he deceives, a colony which ought 
to be a pledge for peace, has already paid his infamous desertion. But a day will come 
when all traitors shall be punished. The thunder which struck Moreau is not yet 
spent, and God, the protector of the empire, has fixed the moment when the fall of 
that dishonoured warriour shall give a new example to the world. 

"For us we will not cease to give our Sovereigns proofs of the fidelity and devotion 
which they have a right to expect; and we are ready to sacrifice every thing rather 
than suffer that our enemies , or the traitors who serve them, should ever pollute with 
their presence the territory of the grand empire." 

•This letter has been erroneously ascribed to the Prince Royal; the facts it eon- 
tains, however, leave no room to doubt that it was published by some individual per- 
ffeetly acquainted with the views and character of his Royal Highness. 

t Early in October, 1813, the Leipzig Gazette contained the following article:— 

"The Prince of Sweden has for some time been issuing publications, which may 
literally be denominated pamphlets. It is insonceivable that this Priiice should so far 
forget the rank to which he has been raised, as to sign productions issuing from the 
brains of a Kotzebue, a Schlegel, a Sarrazin, or a Goldsmith. The public asks, with 
astonishment, is not this the same Prince of Ponte Corvo, whom the French govern, 
ment deigned to appoint MarsL^, and has since loaded with favotu'sand gifts.' Is he 



808 

which could only fill with disgust every honourable 
mind. Whoever was its compiler, none hut Buona- 
parte himsc't could have dictated it. That person ag'e 
is known as a writer; his style cannot be mistaken. 
It is not with a ])en tliat he writes against his enemies, 
that is, against every man of principle, or who dares 



not the same Marshal, who, in Hamburg, Hanover, and Elbing, imposed such heavy 
contributions raerelv to fill his private coffers? Is he not that Bemadotte, that violent 
jacobin, who, during his legation to the Court of Vienna, displayed the tri-coloured 
flag, occasioned his expulsion from that city? Is he not the same Bemadotte, whose 
principles France contemns, and, but for the indulgence and protection of the Empe- 
rour Napoleon, who generously forgave his errours, in consideration of his alliance 
with bis family must now have been grovelling in tlie dust? 

"Assuredly this is the very same man— he owes his elevation to the throne of Swe- 
den, only to the admiration and regard which the power and successes of France had 
excited in Sweden, and who could not have seated himself in that throne but with the 
permission and consent of France.* 

"It shocks us to behold ingratitude, degradation, and disregard of everj- honourable 
fueling, carried to such an extreme. 

"According to the opinion of persons who have the best means of information, the 
reason of this conduct is, that being paid by England, it has been imposed upon him as 
a duty to degrade himself, and to break for ever with France; and with this view he 
has been led to accept Guadaloupe, a French possession, and has promised to sign all 
the libels that the English may think proper to compose. 

" Some deem it quite natural, that the Prince of Sweden like other renegadoes, should 
figure as the most violent enemy of his country. Others, in short, think that this 
Prince is rather to be pitied, inasmuch as his mother having been deranged, and some of 
his brothers and sisters being actually insane, he may have been impelled to his pre* 
sent line of conduct, by attacks of the same malady. 

"The destiny of Sweden, in fact, is truly singular. She expels from the throne a 
Prince of disordered intellect, and calls to it a French General, who, bom a Catholic, 
is compelled, as the first act of his government, to abjure his religion;— and this same 
General, the twentieth only in rank in the French army, whose principles and moral 
character are held in such lUght estimation in his native country, i« the son and 
brother of lunatics, and already begins himself to experience the attacks of that 
malady." 



• The idea that Sweden, in choosing Marshal Bernadotte for a successour to the 
throne, was directed by Buonaparte, is notoriously false; Buonaparte had not the 
most distant idea of such a choice, until after it was determineii by the votes of the 
National Representatives; and moreover Buonaparti; confesses, in his conversation, 
{vide page 140) with Baron de Lagerbjelke, "that the choice of Marshal Bemadotte 
to be Prince Royal of Siccden, 7rai by ym nitons rnfiuciicfd bij him,'" 



309 

to oppose his will: a pen dipped in gall would be too 
feeble an ima.s:e; it is with the axe of the executioner that 
he appears to rough-hew the violent and abrupt expres- 
sions of his sanguinary tirades. But if there existed 
the shadow of a doubt as to the true author of this li- 
bel, the following reflections must dispel it. For more 
than two years past, the French gazettes, and all the 
journals subject to French influence, observed the most 
profound silence on every thing that concerns the re- 
lations between France and Sweden. The ingenious 
turns by which your journalists blinked that topic, 
when the course of events seemed absolutely to require 
its lieing noticed, might have excited a smile. 

♦*ln your Moniteurf you did not say one syllable 
about the interview at Abo; the treaties between Swe- 
den, Russia, and England; on the arrival of the Prince 
Royal in Germany, at the head of a Scandinavian 
army; on the conferences at Treachenberg; or on the 
enthusiasm with which that prince was received by 
the people of Germany. You made such a secret of 
the true state of affairs, that French officers, brought 
m as prisoners immediately after the expiration of the 
armistice to the camp of the combined army of the 
North of Germany, were astonished at their seeing 
Swedish soldiers, being still ignorant that France was 
at war with Sweden. I admire your prudence. You 
know that the name of the Prince Royal of Sweden 
would make a profound impression on real French 
hearts; that it would awaken recollections dangerous 
to you — recollections of liberty and glory." 

On the charge of libellist, applied to the Prince 
Royal by Buonaparte or \ub journal writer, our au- 
thor observes as follows: 
M 



310 

<*The Imperial Gazette-writer, or the Joiirnalist- 
Emperour, affirms with imequalled impudence, that 
the Prince Royal of Sweden for some time past has 
subscribed, with his name, writings which deserve to 
be characterized as libels^ and that he employs mer- 
cenary authors for their production. The Prince 
Royal, however, has no occasion to borrow the pen of 
any man; he knows how to wield the pen as well as the 
sword, and with both he has directed destructive 
blows against you. 

*«Since Sweden entered the coalition, only a small 
number of documents on the general affairs of Eu- 
rope have appeared with the signature of the Prince 
Royal. The two letters to the Emperour Napoleon, 
inserted in the report of the minister for foreign affairs, 
on the relations between Sweden and France; the pro- 
clamation to the Swedish army which defends the 
frontiers; that to the combined army of the North of 
Germany, and that to the States; together with the 
letter to the Emperour Napoleon, of the 23d of March, 
1813, are I believe, the only writings authentically 
published under the name of his Royal Highness. 

'^Instead of vague abuse, why don't you reprint 
them in the Momteur, accompanied with notes, to per- 
suade your readers, that they are really libels? You 
dare not! There is, especially in the letter of the 23d 
of MaiTJi, wherewithal to dispel all the impostures 
with which Buonai)arte is surrounded. That docu- 
ment forms an epoch in the annals of diplomacy, it is 
rejdcte with great truths, delivered in a grand and 
majestic manner. 

**It is useless here to remind the reader of all the 



311 

libels which Buonaparte has written, or caused to 
be written against the Sovereigns of Europe.— 
They are deposited in the Moniteur and the other 
Parisian journals; for as nobody in France dares 
now-a-days deliver an independent opinion on pub- 
lic affairs, we may be sure that every thing of this 
sort, hazarded by these journals, is dictated by the 
government, and the government is Buonaparte.-— 
It is notorious, that not only as Consul, but as Enipe- 
rour he has kept Barrere in pay — his old friend, and 
the orator of Robespierre — as the writer of his news« 
paper articles, and political pamphlets." 

Speaking of the discourses, the manifestos, and the 
bulletins of Buonaparte, it is justly observed, ''This 
man is consummate in hypocrisy, while not the slave 
of his passions. There is no name, however sacred, 
beginning with those of God and ot Providence, wliich 
he has not profaned, for the promotion of his sinister 
ends; no noble sentiment to which he has not appealed; 
no hope dear to humanity, with which he has not 
sported.' 

In the course of his observations on the career of the 
Prince Royal, during the French revolution, and after 
Buonaparte had assumed the supreme power, the 
author relates the following anecdote: "The Prince 
Royal, then General Beinadotte, did not act against 
the usurper, but he did not conceal his sentiments. 
Buonaparte feared him, and neglected no means of 
disarming his opposition, and of preventing the true 
friends of their country from rallying around him. 
During one of those ceremonies whicii Buonaparte 
instituted, to habituate the French to the return of 
monarchical forms, he observed with satisfaction to 
General Bernadotte, 'Every thing reverts into the 



did 

old order of thinja^s.' — <Yes, citizen consul,' replied 
thp latter, *every thing does revert; nothin.s: is wanting 
thereto, but a million of Frenchmen, who perished for 
the catise of liberty.* '* 

General Bernadotte, like other French generals, 
was decorated with titles under the new regime, and 
on this topic, we extract the following acute re- 
mark:— 

**Amidst this new formation of elevated ranks, 
those wliich were appropriated to victorious captains 
were almost those exclusively which had within them 
a principle of reality. In almost all countries it was 
the brilliance of martial exploits which founded the 
first nobility. The French generals were rewarded 
for having served France; others were so for having 
become the docile instruments of the schemes of Buo- 
naparte." 

After passing a high encomium on the disinterested;- 
ness, the urbanity, and moderation displayed by the 
Prince Royal, during the campaigns of a twenty 
years' war, which had generally assumed the charac- 
ter of a gloomy violence, the author proceeds as fol- 
lows: 

"You make a merit of not having retained the 
Prince Royal in France, when he was invited to the 
succession to the Swedish throne. No doubt, after hav- 
ing usurped the sole disposal of the existence to so 
many millions of Frenchmen, whom you })ermit neith- 
er to think, act, write, speak, nor even breathe freelyj 
you miglit as well extend your claims thus far also: 
after other unheard-of violences, you might have 
practised this too. Why, then, don't you also boast 



81S 

of not having caused the Prince Royal to he assassi- 
nated at the moment of his departure? We know you 
wished to cause the destruction of Moreau, but that 
you dared not. Perhaps also, on second thought, 
you deemed it less dangerous, to have an antagonist 
without, than to raise up one within France, or to 
push a man of energy to extremities. 

<<But what indiscreet fit of hypocrisy was it which 
induced you to reproach the Prince Royal for having 
adopted the religion established in Sweden for three 
centuries past? Truly, the zealous Catholic must feel 
highly edified! The reproach well becomes your mouth, 
who were a renegado in Egypt; the impostor who wish- 
ed to pass for a prophet of Mahomet — ^the same man* 
who, returned to France, affected great zeal for the re- 
establishment of Catholicism — who engaged the Sove- 
reign Pontiff, by the hope of restoring peace to the 
church, to sanction by his benedictions your elevation 
to the throne; who, in return, despoiled the venerable 
old man of all his States, dragged him into captivity 
where he still groans; who was excommunicated, and 
are so still, for the new concordat which you have 
dared to publish is only a new imposture. Buona- 
parte has, in turn, flattered Mahometans, Catholics, 
Protestants, Jews, even Philosophers, by proclaiming 
universal tolerance; he has deceived them all; and 
whatever be the religious opinions of men, they must 
all agree in abhorring one with whom religion has 
never been any tiling else but the mask of hypocrisy, 
and the engine of his infernal policy. 

"The reproach of having robbed France of Guada- 
loupe does not affect the Prince Royal alone, but the 
whole Swedish government. It is true, that accord- 



314 

ing to the old law of nations, estahlislied in Europe, a 
conquered province was never disposed of to a third 
power, until ceded by the original possessors, at the 
conclusion of a peace. But Buonaparte has trodden 
under foot that venerable code: he has incorporated 
with France a number of Provinces that never were 
ceded by their legitimate Sovereigns; the kingdom of 
Westphalia was put together in a similar way. His 
own proper acts have therefore rendered void his re- 
clamations, and England has exercised only very mod- 
erate reprisals. Sweden, on the other hand, was en- 
titled to seize this opportunity of retaliating on Buona- 
parte; lie had invaded Pomerania: Sweden took pos- 
session of Guadaloupe. And if at a general peace 
that power should ever consent to restore Guadaloupe, 
in consideration of an equivalent, this would always 
be a service done to France in concert with the Eng- 
lish government. 

"By accepting Guadaloupe, Sweden wished to prove 
to the world that she was not afraid of Buonaparte. 
She early foresaw the fall of his colossal, but factitious 
power. Besides, what is Guadaloupe, when Compar- 
ed with so many other important colonies which 
France has lost since the rupture of the peace of 
Amiens? It was Buonaparte alone who brought this 
loss upon himself by his senseless obstinacy in making 
war on Great Britain. No enlightened Frenchman is 
ignorant, that the only hope which remains to France 
of recovering her colonics, is founded on the return 
of her government to principles of equity and modera- 
tion in Europe — to principles which the usurper Buo- 
naparte vk ill never sincerely acknowledge." 

After thus tracing the views, the character, and the 



315 

policy of the Prince Royal, the author concludes with 
the following portrait of Buonaparte: 

«<Vain, then, is your attempt to render the Prince 
Royal odious in the eyes of the French, who can no 
longer mistake the true author of their calamities, nor 
the object which alone deserves their hatred. It is the 
man who has accumulated on their guiltless heads the 
hatred and the vengeance of nations. Who could 
sketch without some omission, the long career of 
crimes by which he arrived at, and has maintained 
himself in power? Buonaparte, born in Corsica, was 
educated in a military school in France, by the bene- 
ficence of the unfortunate Louis XVI.; he issued from 
it to become a furious jacobin: his first attempt to 
make himself notorious was a pamphlet, in the most 
revolutionary strain, called Le Souper de Avignon; 
after the ninth Tliermidor, he was marked, arrested, 
and deprived of his rank, as an agent of Robespierre's: 
he flattered and betrayed all the factions in turn, till 
he became their master; he defiled tlie streets of Paris 
with the blood of citizens who claimed a constitutional 
right; he sacrificed a fine army to his chimerical pro- 
jects in Egypt; — there he massacreed his Turkish 
prisoners, poisoned his own sick, and deserted his ar- 
my at the most critical moment: returned to Europe, 
he attempted, at the head of his satellites, to dissolve 
the National Representation; and was at the point of 
failing in his enterprize, had he not been saved by his 
brother's presence of mind: arrived at power, he caus- 
ed Pichegrue to be strangled in a dungeon, by his 
Mamelucs; he proscribed Moreau; he kidnapped the 
descendant of the great Conde, on a hospitable terri- 
tory, and dragged him to punishment; the reign of 
terrour was restored in France; instead of one Bastile 



S16 

which the French had demolished, he erected eight; all 
the dungeons were filled with state ]>risoners: suspi« 
cious as Tiberius, and cruel as Nero, he established in 
Fi'ance a system of universal espionnage^ which ab- 
sorbs one half of the ac tivity of all the public func- 
tionaries; every liberal idea was proscribed, every 
independent voice was smothered; the silence of death 
hovered, and still hovers over that country, inhabited 
by one of the most enlightened and ingenious nations 
of Europe: flattery alone is heard, and by a monstrous 
scafibliiing of lies it endeavours to conceal such a mul- 
tiplicity of horrours. His system of intcmal govern- 
ment has ruined the prosperity of France; his con- 
duct in foreign relations forms only a tissue of Ma- 
chiavelian perfidies. 

<*In the wars which his wild ambition has kindled 
for the last ten years, all those veterans, the old de- 
fenders of their country, have perished in succession; 
the youth of France, torn from their peaceful occupa- 
tions, has been thinned, without pity! If the glitter of 
victories gained by French valour was for some years 
able to produce illusion, that illusion is now destroy- 
ed. Buonaparte, by abusing fortune, has at last tired 
her out; he now experiences reverses alone, and his 
success was his only merit. He has not one faithful 
ally: all of them aspire to shake off the yoke of vas- 
salage, which im])erious circumstances imposed, and 
which he docorated with the name *alliance.' He has 
still satellites, whom fear for their own safety attaches 
to his person: he has not one friend in the whole 
world. 

"The moment approaches, wh^i thi3 man, who so 
long wound his way in darkness to a height at which 



317 

he seemed to tread under foot the human race, is ahout 
to re-enter his original nothing. It is in vain that he 
Would confound his name and interests with those of 
France: he has nothing in common with her: it is only 
his usurpation and tyranny which have hitherto con- 
nected the fate of France with his. The allies have 
loudly declared, that they do not make war upon the 
French nation, but upon Buonaparte alone. Amidst so 
many millions of men whom he calls his subjects, the 
tyrant is insulated; a gjeneral amnesty is proclaiined 
for all those who have served him, provided they- re- 
linquish his party, and act against him: he alone is 
proclaimed an outlaw against humanity. 

"Never did a more august Senate preside over the 
destinies of Europe, than that which the allied Sover- 
eigns form at this day. Can it be supposed that the 
Prince Royal of Sweden would not raise his voice in 
that Senate, in favour of his country, were the dismem- 
berment or subjugation of France even hinted at? But 
France may obtain the most honourable peace, the 
moment she chooses to set limits to her despot's abuse 
of power. 

"The allies wish only to re-establish the tranquility 
and independence of the civilized world. The Prince 
Royal of Sweden cherishes the remembrance of France; 
he ceases not to pray for her happiness. It is Buona- 
parte who has neither French blood nor a French 
heart. — After the manner of the ancient knights, the 
Prince Royal has nobly thrown down his glove: let his 
adversary take it up if he dare; let him come and ter- 
minate this great contest in single combat: the event 
would not be doubtful. — Methinks I see the Prince 
Royal of Sweden advance within the list, with that se* 
^2 



SIS 

rcnc front, that air so open and noble, which recalls 
the image of the Bayards and the Du Guesclins, 
against his adversary, bloated with pride, but loaded 
with curses, and his forehead already furrowed with 
the thunderbolts of celestial wrath, Methinks 1 sec 
the shades of heroic Kings of Sweden appear in the 
clouds, to be witnesses of this judgment of God: me- 
thinks I see Gustavus AdoJphus dart a look of indig- 
nation at him who profaned the name of the battle of 
Lutzen, by saying that it had been fought a second 
time by him for the liberty of Germany. Nations, 
the spectators, would applaud with enthusiasm, the 
generous enterprize of their defender; they would pre- 
sage to him the victory: the monster would be thrown 
to the earth, and the world would resound with shouts 
of gladness." 

From this necessary digression I turn with plea- 
sure to a continuation of the brilliant manoeuvres of 
the Prince Royal. The battle of Leipzig seemed the 
forerunner of a peace to Europe. It was the most san- 
guinary and extensive battle that had taken place dur- 
ing the war, and success in its amplest measure had 
attended the vast efforts of the allied chiefs. To each 
chieftain Europe is indebted for the glorious triumph 
acquired at Leipzig, but to none more than to the 
Prince Royal of Sweden. 



TWENTY-SIXTH BULLETIN. 

Head-qiiarters, HeiligenstadU Oct. 30, 1813. 
<«Thb Prince Royal has this day removed his head- 
quarters to this place. 



319 

"The Emperour Napoleon continues his retreat to 
the Rhine: the allied armies pursue him, and are con- 
tinually disturbing him. All information received as- 
sures us, that he has not ahove 50 or 60,000 men with 
him, the remainder of his army is dispersed, and is 
wandering ahout without guidance and without arras 
among the mountains. 

"General Tchernicheff, who commands one of the 
vanguards of the allied army of the North of Germa- 
ny, on the twenty-fifth instant, near to Elstrode, not 
far from Eisenach, caused a detachment of 800 caval- 
ry, commanded by the General of division Fournier, 
to be attacked. He drove it into a defile, where the 
greater part of these men were cut to pieces, and 300 
made prisoners. 

"The Cossacks who made this attack were not more 
than two or 300 men strong. On information being 
received on the twenty-seventh, that a part of the 
young French guards had spent the night at Fulda, 
General Tchernicheff drew General Ilowaiski the sec- 
ond to him, and detached Colonel Benkenddrff to 
Fulda. 

"This officer drove away the enemy, took 500 pris- 
oners from him, and destroyed the magazine of corn 
established there. As it appeared that the young 
guards formed the van guard of the French arsay. 
General Tchernicheff posted himself between it, and 
the army following it under the command of the Em- 
perour Napoleon, and thus awaited the approach of 
the enemy's columns. 

"As soon as he perceived its head, he caused it to 



be attacked. Three squadrons of the gens d'armerie 
of the .ejuards were attacked and driven back upon the 
troops that followed them. 

"General Tchernicheff dispersed the van guard of 
the Emperour Napoleon, destroyed the magazines 
from which he thought to supply his army, and ren- 
dered the roads impassable, 

"Lieutenant-General Count Woronzoff, early on the 
twenty- eighth caused Cassel to be garrisoned by a 
part of his van guard. A few hours afterwards, the 
corps of Count St. Priest, from the army of Silesia, en- 
tered that place. Count Von Woronzoff has followed 
them there to-day, and he will be followed by GeneraJf 
Baron Von Winzingerode, with his whole army. 

"The king of Westphalia, who was ignorant of the 
result of the battle near Leipzig, was still quiet at 
Cassel on the twenty-fourth, and had not more than 
four or 5000 recruits with him. It was not until the 
next day, the twenty-fifth, that he was informed how 
badly his brother had fared, and on the twenty-sixtU 
he set off without delay by ' the way of Wetzlar for 
Coblentz, 

«< General Carra St. Cyr has again entered Bremen, 
but most probably will not remain there long. 

**The Marshal Prince of Eckmuhl still remained on 
the twenty-sixth in the position he had taken behind 
the Steiknitz, but preparations were observed making 
for thro- ing a bridge over it near to Zollenspecker. 
■yrhat he intends doing, is not yet exactly known. 
Some people, who think themselves well informed, as- 



SSI 

sert that the Emperour Napoleon has given him orders 
to defend himself in Hamburg to the last extremity, to 
prevent the Danes from declaring against France as 
long as possible. 

<«The French do not agree well Mith the Danes: 
these wish for nothing more earnestly than to make 
common cause with the allies, and expect their king's 
declaration with the greatest impatience. 

*«The Saxon army which joined the allies, and re- 
ceived the army of the North under arms when it en- 
tered Leipzig, will take the field without delay. Their 
generals, officers, and soldiers, wish to avenge the in- 
sults that have been put on them. 

*<The King of Wirtemberg has declared himself for 
the good cause of the allies: his troops have already 
arrived at AschafFenburg, and are on their march to 
join the Austrian and Bavarian troops, under the com- 
mand of General Count Wrede. 

"The liberation of Hanover will soon take place. 
Power and justice are on the point of destroying the 
structure raised by oppression and superiour force." 



The Prince Royal, whilst at Heiligenstadt, received 
A deputation from tlie university and magistracy of the 
city of Gottingen, who were sent to express the senti- 
ments of the inhabitants, and their hopes of soon be- 
holding him within their walls^ 



On the first of November, the head-quarters of his 
Royal Highness were removed to Gottingen. The 
magistrates and armed burghers received the Prince 
Royal at the gates, the town bells ringing during the 
while; the air resounded with the joyful acclamations 
of the inhabitants, who flocked in crowds to meet his 
Royal Highness. Young women dressed in white, and 
with garlands of laui*els in their hands, assembled at 
the former hotel of the prefecturate, where his Royal 
Highness alighted, and formed a row up the whole of 
the staircase to his chambers. In the evening the 
young students came, followed by the burghers of the 
city with torches and music, to offer their obedience 
with three cheers. The whole city was illuminated: 
the streets were filled with spectators, who embraced 
and wished each other joy, heartily shaking the Swe- 
dish soldiers by the hand. 

On the sixth of November his RoyaJ Highness ar^ 
rived at Hanover. The Duke of Cumberland, who 
arrived there two days before, went to meet his Royal 
Highness at the outer part of the suburbs. A con- 
siderable corps of armen burghers, with white hand- 
kerchiefs round their hats and on theii' left arms, stood 
drawn up in parade. 

The cannon were fired, and all the bells were rung. 
The windows of the houses were filled with ladies, 
who, participating in the general joy, saluted the libe- 
rator of their native country w ith the warmest expres- 
jsions of emotion and gratitude. All the inhabitants of 
the city and of the adjacent country had assembled in 
the streets, and who, under the continual reiteration of 
"Long life to the Prince Royal of Sweden!" accompa- 
nied the suite to the palace of MonbriUaut, where his 



Royal Highness descended. In the evening the city 
was brilliantly illuminated. A great number of trans- 
parenf^ies were exibited, the sentiments of love and 
loyalty to the lawful sovereign of the country, of joy 
for its liberation, and gratitude towards its liberator, 
were here in many cases blended together in one affect- 
ing picture. The Swedish army was now resting it- 
self after its fatigue, and for the moment enjoying that 
repose of which it stood so much in need. It had per- 
formed long and fatiguing marches with worn-out 
shoes, and clothing in not much better condition, and 
in bad roads: yet nevertheless, the Swedish troops at 
Hanover, about 12,000 men in number, and on which 
his Royal Highness held a review, appeared to great 
advantage to the numerous spectators, by their fine 
conduct and discipline. 

The several articles for their re-equipment having 
arrived, and the army being fully provided with all 
necessaries, prepared to proceed on its glorious ca- 
reer. 



TWENTY-SEVENTH BUllETIN. 

Head-quarters, Hanoroer, JVor. 10, 1813. 
"The Prince Royal has trasferred his head-quarters 
to Hanover, after having marched by Gottingen, Ein- 
beck, and Eltzi. 

<*The Emperour Napoleon has repassed the Rhine 
at Mentz; ha left the roads covered with dead and 



dyin^. These sad irrefragable testimonies of his de- 
feats have indicated to the allied armies the route 
which they had to pursue: Hanau, in fine, has become 
to Napaleon a new Beresyna. It is only to the he- 
roism of his soldiers and the talents of his generals 
that he owed his safety. 

*<General Tchernicheff, who constantly formed the 
advanced guard of the French army during its retreat 
towards t]\c Rhine, greatly contributed to the result of 
the battle of Hanau. That general harassed the ene- 
my during the whole of the thirtieth of October; and 
having learned on the thirty-first, that a corps of 
10,000 cavalry was escorting the Emperour Napo- 
leon, he resolved to charge them with five regiments 
of Cossacks, in which he succeeded even beyond his 
hopes; for he several times overthrew. the enemy, who 
was compelled to retire under the fire of his cannon, 
and took from him 400 prisoners. 

*'This general, from Erfurt to the banks of the Rhine, 
has been incessantly a-head of Napoleon: sometimes 
attacking his advanced guard, at other times retard- 
ing his march, by blowing up the bridges, cutting up 
the roads, or throwing up abbatis. These operations; 
which the Emperour Napoleon affects to consider as 
an unfair mode of war, because they are pernicious to 
him, compelled him to engage in many combats, in 
which General Tchernicheff took 4000 prisoners, in- 
cluding two colonels and thirty other oflicers. This 
general's division has always acted as the flying corps 
of the North of Germany; of that army which Napo- 
leon found at Gross Bcren, at Dennevitz, and at Leip- 
zig. 



320 

"Lieutenant-General Count WoronzofF praises 
highly the talents of Lieutenant-Colonel Chrapowits- 
ky, who, hovering on the enemy's flanks during his 
retreat, took 500 prisoners. The advanced guard of 
General Baron Winzingerode has pursued the corps 
of General Riguad and other enemy's detachments, 
upon the road to Wesel and Dusseldorff. The town 
of Munster was occupied on the fifth by Russian 
troops. The enemy's force has lost in its retreat more 
than 600 prisoners, of whom Major Cziczensky took 
500. 

<«General Tettenborn has kept in check with his 
corps the division of General Carra St Cyr, and the 
troops coming from Holland, which wished to re-occu- 
py Bremen. The Prince Royal is much satisfied with 
the activity of that general. 

**Marshal Davoust still occupies his old position on 
the Stecknitz, and can no longer effect his retreat to 
France. General Baron Winzingerode is one day's 
march from Bremen, and will extend his troops 
throughout all the country of Oldenburg, and even to 
the frontiers of Holland, whither he has already sent 
Colonel Narishkin. General Bulow is at Minden; he 
will send a corps to Munster, and his cavalry is rea- 
dy to form a junction with that of General Tcher- 
richeff on the banks of the Rhine. General Count 
Woronzoff is in march upon Luneburg. A division 
of the Swedish army, commanded by Lieutenant- 
General the Baron de Sandels, is at Brunswick^ the 
division of Major-General de Posse at Hanover; and 
that of Major-General de Boye at Hiklesheim: the ca- 
valry, under Lieutenant-General Skioldebrand, occupy 
the villages about Hanover. 
4<S 



3S6 

«Tlic army recovers from its fatigues, and is re- 
pairing its clothing and equipage. i^ 

.A 

*<The regency of the Electorate of Hanover has 
been re-established, and the enemy now occupies on 
the Lower Elbe only Harburg^ Stade, and the small 
fort of Hope: but it may be presumed, that he cannot 
long defend them. The inhabitants of all classes 
have displayed at Hanover, and other places of the 
electorate, proofs of the most toucliing affection for 
their Sovereign. The Prince Royal, whose fortune it 
formerly was to command them as an enemy's gene- 
ral, has received with sensibility the marks of recol- 
lection and of acknowledgment which they have giv-. 
en him, for the manner in w hich he acted towards 
them. 

<*The head-quarters of the grand allied army were 
on the fifth at Frankfort. Thus, then, the unheard-of 
cflbrts which France has made in 1813, have had the 
same results as those she made in 1812. The French 
legions, which caused the world to tremble, are retir- 
ing and seeking safety behind the Rhine, the natural 
frontier of France, and which would be still a barrier 
of iron, had not Napoleon wished to subjugate all na- 
tions, and to ravisli from them their country. Although 
these limits appear fixed by nature, the Russian army 
presents itself before them, because Napoleon went to 
seek the Russians at Moscow; the Prussian army ap- 
pears before them, because, in breach of his sworn 
faith. Napoleon still retains the fortresses of that 
monarchy; the army of Austria appears before them 
because she has insults to revenge, and because she 
recollects, that after tlie peace of Presburg, the title 
of Emperour of Germany was torn from her supreme 



chief: if the Swedes are there also, it is because amid 
profound peace, and in violation of the most solemn 
treaties, Napoleon treacherously surprised them at 
Stralsund, and insulted them at Stockholm. 

"The allies regret the misfortunes of the French; 
they lamented the calamities which the war brings in 
its train ; and far from being dazzled, like Napoleon, 
by the success with which Providence has favoured 
their arms, they are ardently desirous of peace. All 
nations sigh for that boon of heaven, and Napoleon 
alone has hitherto placed himself in opposition to the 
happiness of tiio world. Hence all the princes, lately 
his allies, hasten to abjure the ties which connected 
him with them; even those whose States had been ag- 
grandized in consequence of his power or his ifluence» 
renounce their aggrandizement and his pretended 
friendship." 



In the following Bulletin is to be seen another reso- 
lute and manly denunciation from the Prince Royal 
against Buonaparte. He boldly and correctly asserts 
that the French Ruler "does not wish for peace; and 
as Europe desires it, she ought to prepare to obtain it 
by means of arms." The Prince Royal is thoroughly 
acquainted with the views and principles of Buona- 
parte, and with the general sentiments of the French 
people: it must, therefore, be supposed that his opin- 
ions would have great weight in the decisions of the 
allies. 



328 

TWENTY-EIGHTH BUliLETllSr. 

*' Head-quarters, Boit'zenhurg, J^ov, 30, 1813. 

«0n the sixteenth, the Prince Royal quitted Hano- 
ver, and arrived at Bremen on the seventeenth in the 
morning; on the twentieth his Royal Highness arrived 
at Celle; on the twenty-second, at Ueltzen; on the 
twenty-third, at Luneburg; and yesterday here. 

<»The Swedish army has passed the Elbe; Marshal 
Count de Stedingk, with his etat major, and the first 
brigade, is at Boitzenburg; the other Swedish brig- 
ades in the environs. 

*<The corps of Lutzen has passed the Elbe with the 
Swedish army. 

''General Bulow's advanced guard, commanded by 
General Oppen, has made a movement upon the Yssel, 
and has been, since the twenty-third, at Doesburg. 
General Bulow, with the rest of his army, is on the 
banks of the Rhine, and the frontiers of Holland. 

<*At the attack at Doesburg, a great part of the 
garrison was cut to pieces. The approach of night 
prevented the exact number of prisoners from being 
known; but when the report was sent oft', 200 had 
been reckoned, including a commandant and five oflSi- 
cers. 'V\\r- capture of Doesburg docs great honour to 
General Oppen, by tlie wisdom of his dispositions and 
the vigour of his attack. 



«*A11 the Duchy of East Friesland is delivered from 
tlie enemy. At Emden, Aurich, and throughout the 
country, the Prussian troops have been received with 
great marks of satisfaction. 

"The fortress of Zutpphen has been carried by the 
detachments of Majors de Sandart and de Muller: 300 
jiien were taken. 

'^General Baron de Winzingerode has his head- 
quarters at Bremen: a part of Holland is occupied by 
the detachments of his army. Upon the news of their 
arrival, the inhabitants of Amsterdam established a 
Regency, composed of men of whom the greater part 
are known for their energy and patriotism. 

**The country of Jever is occupied by the Russian 
troops. 

<*The fort of Koltkamp has been taken by a de- 
tachment of the corps of Baron de Rosen j twelve 
pieces of cannon of different calibre were found there. 
The garrison are prisoners of war. 

** Another Russian detachment seized an enemy's 
vessel, on board of which were fifty custom-house offi- 
cers and soldiers. 

*<Major Elswangen has got possession of ZwoH, 
and made two officers and several gens-d'armes pri- 
soners. 

"The Cossacks of Colonel Narishkin have taken 
the town of Canpen, and made one colonel, five offi^ 



330 

eers, and twenty -five gens-d'armes, and eighty infant 
try, prisoners. 

*<Groningen has heen taken hy the troops of Gene- 
ral Winzingerode. One colonel, thirty-eight officers, 
and 800 men were made prisoners. 

'^Deputies from Groningen and other provinces 
have repaired to the head-quarters of the Prince Roy- 
al, to demand authority to form provisional govern- 
ments, depending upon that of Amsterdam; their de- 
mand has been granted. The dignity of Stadtholder 
will, undoubtedly, be proclaimed. This is what Na- 
poleon has gained by the union of that country to 
France. 

*<Several columns of troops have passed the Yssel, 
proceeding towards Utrecht and Amsterdam. One 
may look upon Holland as delivered. Good French- 
men rejoice at it. 

<«The forts of Carlsburg and Blixen have been taken 
by a Russian detachment commanded by Colonel Rie- 
dinger, seconded by an English brig under the orders 
of Captain Farquhar. Twenty officers, 534 sub-offi- 
cers and soldiers, and fifty pieces of cannon, were 
taken. 

"The navigation of the Weser is free. 

"Stade, strong by the marshy ground in the midst 
of which it is situated, was occupied by a numerous 
garrison. Tlie commandant had caused all the dykes 
(one excepted) to be cut, and in consequence of the 
inundation, Stade seemed as it were in the midst of a 



331 

sea» Count de Strogonoff, however, undertook to at- 
tack it. The troops advanced with intrepidity along 
the only remaining dyke, under a cross fire from the 
place, and arrived at a bridge which the enemy had 
destroyed. Impelled by their courage, and the ar- 
dour of mounting to the assault, several officers and 
soldiers rushed into the fosse, where Count de Rostig- 
naik, chief of the regiment of Saarloif, and the officer 
who commanded the head of the column, perished. 
Notwithstanding this example, it required all the gene- 
ral's authority to prevent the soldiers from continuing 
the attack. The garrison, however, fearing a renew- 
al of the enterprize, evacuated the town during the 
night, and embarked for Gluckstadt, where they 
were received by the Danes. On the same night. 
General Strogonoflf entered the town, and found in it 
three pieces of cannon, and a great number of killed 
and wounded. The loss he sustained may amount to 
about 200 men^ that of the enemy was very consider- 
able. 

"Lieutenant-General Count de WoronzofF, who since 
the twenty-second had his head quarters at Winsen, 
has surrounded Harburg. 

**Notwithstanding the superiority in number of the 
enemy's troops who passed the Elbe at Zollenspecker, 
Lieutenant- Colonel Lowenstern, forming part of the 
corps of Count de Woronzoff, drove them back, killed 
100 of them, among, whom were two officer?, took 
two pieces of cannon, and made more than fort pris- 
oners. 

*<Lieutenant Jacobson, of the corps of General Wo- 
ronzoff, attacked with 100 Cossacks two squadrons of 



33S 

Iwrse chasseurs, of tlie gaiTison of Horneburg, and 
after having killed twenty men and made thirty pris- 
oners, took possession of the town. 

"Stettin has capitulated: the conditions are, that the 
garrison shall surrender prisoners of war on the fifth 
of December, if not relieved before that period. 

*<The German troops which were in Magdeburg, 
have been permitted to return to their homes, under 
the condition of not serving against France before 
the term of one year. The garrison is badly provis- 
ioned, and the soldiers are discontented. 

"General Narrbonne, Governour of Torgau, is dead. 
General Duiailles, who replaces him, and three other 
generals, are dangerously ill of the epidemical fever 
which prevails in the town, and which daily carries off 
a great number of victims. 

"Marshal St. Cyr has capitulated, and Dresden is 
in possession of the allies. 

"Thus, with the exception of some strong places 
which are about to be attacked, the whole country be- 
tween the Elbe and the Rhine is delivered from the 
enemy. All the inhabitants are arming themselves, 
and Germany will soon present the spectacle of an en- 
tire people armed for the protection of their indepen- 
dence. 

"The free Hans Town of Bremen has received its 
ancient constitution. It must be expected that the 
sister cities of Hamburg and Lubeck will soon enjoy 
the same happiness. 



383 

''According to recent intelligence, a melancholy 
despair reigns among the unhappy citizens of Ham- 
burg. The soldiers are tired of the war, and desire 
to return to their families. The bank has been carried 
off, and thus a public crime has been committed. The 
principal inhabitants are forced to work at the fortifi- 
cations, and their labour is continued during the night 
as well as the day. 

<'A11 the trees of Wilhelmsburg have been cut down, 
and the bridge built by the French between that island 
and Hamburg is destroyed. 

"In pursuing the rtoble object of all its efforts, that 
of a general peace, the army of the North of Germa- 
ny could not permit an enemy's force to be cantoned 
upon its communications. 

''Germans by origin and language, the inhabitants 
of Holstein ought to rejoice in the liberty which has 
just been restored to their fellow-countrymen; they 
must desire the removal of an army whose presence 
presages nothing but misery. If their territories be 
the theatre of war, they have only to accuse the policy 
of the Danish government. 

"But it is still not too late; it still depends upon the 
Ring of Denmark to spare the country this scourge— 
a country which for several generations, has been the 
seat of prosperity and peace. In abandoning the 
cause that has been so fatal to his own dignity, and the 
interests of his people — finally, in accepting the pro- 
posals of the Allied Powers, tiie King of Denmark 
may divert the storm that threatens liis dominions — 
4i) 



334 

their present and future fate depends upon the resolu- 
tion he is about to adopt, 

"Pamplona has capitulated. The victorious troops 
of the Marquis of Wellington are now upon French 
ground; it is for having attacked the Spaniards in the 
bosom of peace, that the peacefiil inhabitants of the 
Adour behold an enemy's army upon its banks. The 
Emperour of Russia, the Emperour of Austria, the 
King of Prussia, and other formidable armies, are 
upon the banks of the Rhine. One single object di- 
rects all these masses — a general peace, founded upon 
natural limits, the sole guarantee of its solidity. In 
the long miseries that have desolated the Continent, 
the instruments have been as much to be pitied as the 
victims; and it is the happiness of Frenchmen, as well 
as that of their own nations, that the allied Sove- 
reigns desire. War can have but one honourable ob- 
ject, a conquest which alone is desirable and just- 
peace. Millions of voices demand it of the French 
people. Will they be deaf to the voice of humanity, 
of reason, and of their dearest interests? 

<*Who is the Frenchman — who is the man that is a 
true European, that has not been profoundly affected 
in reading the reply of Napoleon to the Senate? — The 
president of that assembly, in the name of France, de- 
mands peace of the Emperour; and this Sovereign, 
who for two years has been the witness of the death 
of six hundi'ed thousand men, replies c<ddly, and 
merely says, that posterity shall acknowledge that the 
existing circumstances were not above liim. 

^'Thus, the Emperour Napoleon does not wish for 
peace; and as Europe desires it, she ought to prepare to 



835 

obtain it by means of arms. Let us hope that the wishes 
of the French will unite with those of Europe!"* 



TWENTY-NINTH BULLETIN. 

Head-quarters, JVeumunster, Dec, 12, 1813. 
"His Royal Highness, after havin,i^ passed by 01= 
deslohe and Segeberg, removed his head quarters to 
Neumunster on the eleventh instant. The troops of 
General Borstell had an affair with the enemy before 
Wesel, on the second of December. ' The result was 
advantageous to them. Tlie regiment of Cossacks of 

• The annexed Manifesto was issued at this time by the allied Sovereigns from 
Frankfort, and although its language is apparently mild and conciliatory, yet it con- 
cludes with the declaration, that "they will not lay down their artns~imtil the political 
state of Europe he re-established anew," &c. 

Frankfort, December 1, 1813. 

"The French government has ordered a mew levy of 300,000 conscripts. The mo? 
tives of the Senatus Consultum to that effect contains an appeal to the allied poweit» 
They, therefore, find themselves called upon to promulgate anew, in the face of the 
world, the views which guide them in the present war; the principles which form 
the basis of their conduct, their wishes, and their determinations. 

"The allied powers do not make war upon France, but against that preponderance, 
tiaughtily announced— against that preponderance, which to the misfortune of Europe, 
and of France, the Emperour Napoleon has too long exercised beyond the limits of 
%is empire. 

"Victory has conducted the allied armies to the banks of the Rhine. The first use " 
,nrhich their Imperial and Royal Majesties have made of victory, has been to ofier 
peace to his Majesty the fimperour of the French. 

"An attitude strengthened by the accession of all the Sovereigns and Princes of 
Germany, has had no influence on the conditions of that peace. These conditions are 
founded on the independence of the French empire, as well as on the independence 
of the other States ot Europe. The views of the powers are just in their object, gene, 
rous and liberal in their applications, giving security to all, ho:iiourable to each. 

^The allied Sovereigns desire that France may be great, powerful, and happy> be° 



336 

Bisciiloff, which has already distinguished itself on 
inanj other occasions, was there covered with glory. 

Major Knoblock, of the corps of General Borstell, 
surprised the town of Neus, ojiposite DusseldorflF. An 
eagle, a colonel, eighteen officers, and some hundred 
soldiers, were there taken. Possession was also obr 
tained of a magazine of forage and regimental cloth- 
ing. Colonel Hole, who commanded the expedition, 
pursued the enemy as far as the road to Juliers. Thus 
the troops of the army of the North of Germany find 
themselves on the French territory. It is still hoped, 
however, that the grand confederation, armed for the 
liberty and independence of the Continent, will not be 
forced to pass on, and seek in ancient France, that 
peace of which all the inhabitants of the earth have 
S)ich need. 

'♦After a short bombardment, the corps of General 
"Winzingerode lias possessed itself of the fort of Roth- 
enburg. The garrison have been taken prisoners of 
war. 

cause the French power, in a state of greatness and strength, is one of the foundation 
of the social edifice of Europe. They wish that France may be happy,— that French 
commerce may revive, — that the arts, those blessings of peace, may ag^in flourish; be* 
cause a great people can only he tranquil in proportion as it is happy. The powers con- 
firm to the French empire an extent of territory which France, under her kinE:s, nevef 
knew; because a valiant nation does not fall from its rank, by having in its turn esp& 
lienced reverses in an obstinate and sanguinary con^estjin which it has fought with its 
accustomed bravery. 

"But the allied powers also wish to be free, tranquil, and happy, themselves. They 
desire a state of peace, which, by a wise partition of strength— by a just eqiiilibriun^ 
piay hcnceforwanl preserve their people from the numberless calamities which have 
overwhemed Europe for the last twenty years. 

"The allied powers will not lay down their arms, until they have attained this great 
and beneficial result- this noble object of their efforts. They will not lay down their 
arms, until the political state of F.urope be reestablished anew— until immovable prin- 
ciples have rtsinncd tli-ir rights over vain pretensions— until the sanctity of treaties 
shali have at last secured a real peace to Etuope." 



^ <*The Prince of Erkmiihl, with a view of obtaining 
intelligence, and to make prisoners, has made a sortie 
from Hamburg with all his cavalry: he had supported 
them with a reserve of several battalions. This corps, 
under the orders of the General of Division, Vichery, 
attacked an advanced post of the Cossacks placed at 
Tondorff, and pursued its march with so much impet- 
uosity, that it entered Rahlstedt along with the picket. 
The regiment of Cossacks which entered that place, 
was obliged to retire upon Seik, where General Pahlen 
was, with six squadrons of regular cavalry, placed 
by General Woronzoff. In less than four minutes, 
these last forces were under arms. General Pahlen, 
well known in the army by his military talents and 
manly intrepidity, immediately led them to the charge. 
Colonel Tumen, at the head of a squadron of the regi- 
ment of Izoum, began the attack with so much vigour, 
that it immediately overthrew the enemy, who was 
from thenceforth in complete route. They were pur- 
sued to Wandsbeck. The road between Seik and 
Wandsbeck was strewed with dead; more than 200 
were counted; and above 150 prisoners, of whom one 
was an officer, were taken. The Colonel of the Jut- 
land dragoons was wounded, and died soon after of 
his wounds. 

"General Dornberg attacked, with three battalions, 
three regiments of Danish infantry that had come out 
of Oldeslohe. The enemy was briskly pressed as far as 
Bode, and night put an end to the combat. The Gen- 
eral made some prisoners. 

**A squadron of dismounted hussars attacked the 
village of Benthorst, where there was a company of 



388 

Danish infantry. It made twenty prisoners and dis- 
persed the rest, 

*«A detachment of the advanced guard of General 
Wallmoden has taken a part of the enemy's baggage 
at Eckenfohrde, and made some hundreds of prisoners. 

"General Tettenborn, who has passed the Eyder 
with his corps, has occupied Frederickstadt, Tonnin- 
gen, and Husam, and has sent detachments towards 
Flensburg and Sleswick. He has surrounded the fort 
of Vollerwyk. He has surprised, at Harnau, 120 car- 
riages, conveying the sick of the hospital of Altona. 
One hundred and twenty of the escort were made pris- 
onersj the rest saved themselves by favour of the night. 
At Husum he took seven cannon. The General has 
also disarmed the Landsturm of Tonningen and Hu- 
sum. More than 300 muskets were taken there. One 
of his detachments has detroyed the depots of cavalry 
which were at Itzehoe. The enemy has lost many men 
in killed and wounded. One officer, 100 soldiers, and 
120 horses, have been taken. i 

"The Swedish army has advanced upon the Eyder, 
between Rendsburg and Kiel. Its detachments occu- 
py this latter place. The head-quarters of Marshal 
Count Stedingk are at Preetz. 

"The inhabitants of Ploen, and of Eutin, have re- 
ceived the Swedish troops with great acclamations of 
joy. Those towns have been illuminated. 

"General Skioldebrand, wlio was engaged in pur- 
suit of the enemy, came up witli them in front of 
Bornhoft. He found that tlieir force, consisting of 



389 

tht*ee battalions of infantry, and two regiments of 
cavalry, was drawn up in battle, and had a battery of 
six pieces upon their left flank. The fire of their 
grape shot became lively and destructive; but Gen- 
eral Skioldebrand himself, at the head of his troops, 
charged with so much vigour, that the battery was 
carried, the battalions broken, and forced to lay 
down their arms. The enemy's cavalry took to flight; 
all that of General Skioldebrand pursued it, leaving 
only a squadron to receive the battalions which had 
Surrendered. By treachery, or at the instigation of 
some of their officers, these troops took up their arms, 
fired upon our cavalry, and did great mischief. Some 
squadrons of hussars which pursued the enemy, im- 
mediately returned to the charge, and sabred those 
battalions. As the enemy had in the village of Born- 
hoft a considerable corps of reserve, only the battery, 
iind about 300 prisoners could be taken. Their loss 
in killed and wounded is very heavy: ours amounts to 
about 200 men, and as many horses. Captain Plant- 
ing, and Adjutant Cock, of the Morner hussars, have 
been killed; and Colonel Cederstrom, of the same reg- 
iment, wounded. The Swedish cavalry displayed in 
this affair a rare intrepidity: it charged on very diffi- 
Tjult ground three different kinds of corps (cavalry, 
artillery, and infantry,) and obtained complete suc- 
cess. 

««It is painful to be obliged to mention combats 
which have taken place between the children of the 
North. They ought only to produce mourning and 
silence. The Sovereign whose policy has provoked 
them, can alone desire that they should be prolonged. 
Let us hope, that the King of Denmark will put an 
end to this war of brethren; and that his kingdom. 



340 

and that of Sweden, will present the image of one faro- 
ilyj to be tranquil and happy. 

"The enemy, cut oflf from Rendsber^ by General 
Wallmoden, retired upon Kiel> pursued by General 
Skioldebrand. He passed the canal, and proceeded by 
the opposite bank, upon the fortress, after having de- 
stroyed the bridges. It required twenty-tour hours to 
repair them. General Wallmoden, who had advanced 
to Klawenseek, threw others across; and detached 
General Dornberg upon Eckernforhrde, after having 
received intelligence that the enemy was retiring upon 
that point. The advanced guard of General Wallmo- 
den had passed long before. Some battalions, and a 
regiment of hussars, which should have guarded the 
bridge, and kept up the communication with General 
Dornberg, were attacked at Ostenrode by the enemy's 
army, which, fearing no doubt that it should be de- 
stroyed in its march upon Colding, took the sudden 
resolution of piercing to Flendsburg. The corps of 
General Wallmoden being separated, could not arrive 
in time to take part in the action. This General sus- 
tained, with one regiment of iiussars, four battalions^ 
and four pieces of cannon, a long and obstinate com- 
bat, against a force of 10,000 men at least, with a nu- 
merous artillery. Success was a long time balanced; 
but at last the enemy were enabled to gain possession 
of the road to Rendsberg. The soldiers were often 
mixed with each other; and although the number of 
Danes was in the proportion of three to one, the field 
of battle remained with Count Wallmoden. The foot 
and horse chasseurs of Mecklenberg, which formed 
the advanced guard of General Vegesack, arrived in 
time to take part in the engagement, and to decide it. 
Its cavalry made a brilliant charge against the regi- 



341 

meiit of Holstein, ami under the cross-fire of several^, 
battalions, which were placed behind the hedges.-— 
Prince Gustavus of Mecklenburg, who has distinguish- 
ed himself in an extraordinary manner, has been 
wounded. His gr^at valour having borne him into the 
midst of the enemy, he fell into their hands; but he 
was afterwards exchanged for an officer of the same 
rank. It is hoped that his wounds will permit him to 
continue the war. His conduct has been above all 
praise. Colonel Muller, of the Mecklenburg chas- 
seurs, has conducted himself in a brilliant manner. — 
Count Wallmoden has lost in this affair one cannon, 
and from five to 600 men killed, wounded, or missing. 
The loss of the enemy, by his own confession, is more 
than 1000 men. In this engagement, which does great 
honour to Count Wallmoden, and in the preceding, 
which consisted of skirmishes, that General has taken 
eight pieces of cannon, and 400 prisoners. Young 
Lieutenant Muhlenfels, of the hussars of the legion; 
and Lieutenant Maurenholz, of the hussars; with a 
score of hussars, and the same number of Hanoverian 
chasseurs, have performed prodigies of valour, and 
taken five cannon. 

"The Prince of Hesse has demande^l an armistice. 
It is probable that the differences between Sweden and 
Denmark will soon be settled, and that Denmark will 
at last join herself to the allies." 

THIRTIETH BTIXLHTIN. 

"Head-quarters f Kiel f December 16,1813, 

"The armistice demanded hy the Prince of Hesse 
has been granted. It began on the fifteenth instant, 
46 



34'S 

at midnight, and will finish on the twenty-ninth, at 
the same hour. We shall profit by this interval to 
push the operations against Hamburg". The Danish 
army has been able to enter Rendsberg as it were by 
a miracle. Two hours later, «nd it would have been 
forced to lay down its arms, or to disperse. The fort 
of Vollerwyk has surrendered to the corps of General 
Tettenborn, after having been cannonaded for some 
days. The garrison are prisoners of war, and are not 
to serve again till they are exchanged. Eighteen 
cannons and ten mortars have been taken there. The 
number of pieces of cannon taken by General Tetten- 
born, since his entrance into the Duchies, amounts ta 
thirty-eight. 

*'The characteristic talents of the Cossacks, of ex- 
tricating themselves out of difficulties on all emer- 
gencies, has shewn itself on this occasion. For want 
of artillerymen, they themselves served the artillery, 
with which they fired against the battery. The most 
severe weather, roads almost impracticable, nothing 
stops these warriours. An army which has Cossacks 
at its command, will always find its operations, and 
its success, facilitated by their vigilance. 

"The forts of Frederiksort, and Gluckstadt, are not 
included in the armistice. If the Danish government 
wishes for peace, these places will not experience the 
horrours of a bombardment. The army has halted in 
the midst of its successes; the time which it loses by 
waiting for the conclusion of a peace, is of incalcu- 
lable importance. Thus have the allies given to 
Denmark and to Europe, an evident proof of their 
moderation. If hostilities re-commence, it will doubt- 
less be a great misfortune; but no one can reproach 
the allies with those consequences. 



*<Two regiments of Cossacks, of the corps of Gene* 
ral BenkendorfF, have advanced upon Breda. The 
garrison has evacuated that place, and I'etired upon 
Antwerp, pursued by the Cossacks. The town of 
Breda, wherein 600 prisoners have been made, was 
immediately occupied by the allied troops. 

"Thus the army of the North of Germany occupies, 
at this moment, a line from Breda to Dusseldorff. In 
consequence of the armistice, it has recalled all the 
parties in Schleswig; and its troops hold in this Duchy, 
the line from Eckenforde to Husum. The dispositions 
liave been so taken, that upon the extremity of each 
of its wings, jt can assemble an army of 35,000 men 
in three marches. 

<«This exposition ought to be sufficient to convince 
Benmark of the wrong which she has done to the al- 
lies, and to the good cause. Every day is an age lost 
to the interests of that government." 



From these very interesting documents it is to be 
observed, that Europe was principally indebted, at 
this period, for her glorious prospects of triumph, to 
the personal exertions of the Prince Royal of Sweden, 
during the last two months. In a few days he con- 
quered Holstein and released Lubeck,* whilst a part 

• The foflowing letter was addressed by the Prince Royal to his son, on the seventh 
of December, from Lubeck. It must be read nith universal satisfaction, and is a fow" 
fxtul evidence of the mind and sentiments of Ms R«yal Highness. 

"My dear Oscar, 
^The people of Lubeck assisted Gustavus the First in rettoriag liberty to his eQnn° 



344 

of Iiis army powerfully contributed to the military 
operations in H/>llanfl; and, moreover, to the exertions 
of the Prince Royal must be attributed the complete 
overthrow of the fabric of the pretended Westphalian 
liin.^dom, and the restoration of the houses of Hesse, 
Brunswick, and Hanover, to the dominions of their 
ancestors, 

A brief statement of the late operations may be here 
necessary. 

On the fourth of December all the corps of the 
Prince RoyaPs army moved forward^ and on their 
crossing the Strecknitz, Marshal Davoust precipitate- 
ly retired u]ion Hamburg, leaving quite exposed the 
right wing of the Danes, which was posted at Oldes- 
lohe. The French marshal was pursued by General 
Woronzoff, who moved beyond Bergedorflf, and de- 
feated the whole French cavalry in a sanguinary en- 
gagement at Wandsbeck. General Wallmoden march- 
ed direct upon Oldenslope, Marshal Stedingk ma- 
noeuvred on Lubeck; and General Baron de Tetten- 
born, with his light troops, pushed into the iiiteriour of 
Holstein by Trettau, and hung on the flanks and rear 
of tlie French. From the first day, the last named 
officer cut off all communication between the French 



tiy. I have just paid this debt of the Swedes— Lubeck is free. I had the happiness of 
g-ainij»K possession of the city without bloodshed. This advantage is dearer to me than 
a \-ictoi'y in a pitched battle, even though it might not cost me many men. How 
happy are we, my dear son, when we can prevent tlie shedding of tears!— How sound 
and quiet isoiu- sleep. If all men could be convinced of this truth, there would be no 
more conquerours, and natims would be governed only by just Kings. I set off, to-nior* 
row, for Oldeblolie, and the day after, whither events may call me. I do every tiling to 
make them conducive to the good cause and the benefit of my country. The only re- 
eouipense I ^tsire, is. that it may second you, my deai- child, in every thing you will 
cue day undertake for its prosperity and welfare. 

Your affectionate Father, 

"CHILES JOHN, 
"Lubeck, Dec 7, I8i3.»' * 



345 

and the Danes, and took from the latter a considerable 
number of prisoners, carriages, and ammunition wag- 
gons, and likewise intercepted some important dis- 
patches. 

Prince Frederick of Hesse did not hold out against 
all these combined movements, but commenced a pre- 
cipitate retreat on the Eyder. Lubeck was evacu- 
ated by the Danes, who were defeated on the seventh 
of December by the Swedes, and vigorously pursued 
by General Wallmoden, when an obstinate engage- 
ment ensued with a part of his troops, against the 
wiiole Danish army. The action was well contested, 
and the Danes were finally obliged to retire to Rends- 
burg. 

The communication between General Dornberg, 
(who had been detached upon the right bank of the 
Eyder) and General Wallmoden being momentarily 
cut off, and the enemy having been reinforced at 
Schleswig by four battalions, a regiment of cavalry, 
and ten pieces of cannon, arrived from the interiour 
of the country; the critical position of General Dorn- 
berg obliged General de Tettenborn to direct his ope- 
rations towards Schleswig, which place he was pre- 
paring to attack, in case the enemy did not accept a 
summons he had sent him to evacuate the place, when 
intelligence arrived of the following armistice having 
been concluded with the Danes by the mediation of 
Austria. 

Suspension of arms between the allied armies and the 
Danish forces. 

"It is agreed upon — 
f*l. That all hostilities between the Allies and the 



346 

Danish forces shall cease, from the fifteenth of this 
month at midnight, with the exceptions contained in 
the second article, and the armistice shall be in force 
vintil the twentieth instant, at midnight. 

<*2. Pending the duration of the armistice, the Al- 
lies shall he at liberty to possess themselves, if they 
ean, of the fortress of Gluckstadt, and that of Fried- 
rickstadt, Prince Frederick of Hesse having declared, 
that it was not in his power to cede those places, be- 
cause they were not under his command. 

**3. The Allied forces shall evacuate the Duchy of 
Schleswig, with the excejjtion of the points herebeforc 
mentioned, which shall be occupied by them, as well 
as all the territory situated between the line which 
these points form and the Eyder, viz: Eckrenforde, 
Golteburg, Heckeburg, Selk, HoUingstadt, and Hu- 
sam. 

*«*. The high road of Rendsberg to Schleswig shall 
he opened to couriers. The Danish army shut up in 
Rendsburg, are to draw their means of subsistence by 
this route alone, for the numbers actually under arms, 
and the sick in the hospitals. There shall be granted 
from ten to twelve thousand rations per day; and the 
Danes are at liberty to provision the place every three 
days, for wiiich purpose commissaries shall be appoint- 
ed on both sides, to take cognizance, by approxima- 
tion, of the rations carried into the place. 

"5. During the cessation of hostilities there shall 
not be carried into the place of Rendsburg, either am- 
munition or troops. The garrison is not to be aug- 
mented, under any pretext, before the resumption of 



34^7 

hostilities. The Commander-in-chief of the Danish 
troops, Prince Frederick of Hesse, pledges himself be- 
sides, not to add to the fortification of the place, nor 
construct any fluckes, &c. On the other hand, the Al- 
lied army will not throw up any fortifications whatever 
against the place, and they shall, during the duration 
of the armistice, remain behind Swenstedt and Ster- 
feldt, and Swenburg, towards Holstein, which places 
shall remain neutral, and on the side of Schleswig, 
behind Schirnum, BunsdorfF, Duvenstadt, Lorsbruck, 
Holm, and Elsdorff, and they may be occupied by the 
advance posts of the place, 

*<6. The garrison of Rendsburg shall not make any 
sortie, attack, or march against the Allied forces, dur- 
ing the armisticej and, on the other part, the Allied 
troops shall not make any attack or march against the 
place. 

««7. There shall not be at Schleswig more troops 
than such as are appointed for the guard of Prince 
Charles of Hesse, and these shall not exceed 1000 men. 
Troops coming from the interiour shall not proceed 
beyond Honeburg. 

«8. The Allied army not to augment the number of 
their forces in the Duchy of Schleswig, before the ar- 
mistice shall have expired. 
(Signed,) 
'«Comte GusTAVE de Lowenhielm, 
"Comte De Bandenfibtts. 
(Accepted,) 
^'Frederick, Prince de Hesse. 

"Rendsburg, Dec, 15, 1813." 



34^8 



THIRTY-rmST BULLETITf. 

" Head-quarter Sf Kiel, Dec. 21, 1813. 

"General Benkeiidorff has made himself master of 
Gertruydenberg; General Loranga.^e who commanded 
there, is to return to France with his garrison, on con- 
dition of not serving against the allies for one year. 

<'The fortress of "Williamstadt was evacuated with 
so much precipitation, that the enemy abandoned twen- 
ty gun-boats that were tliere. 

<*In all the towns of Holland that have been restored 
to freedom, Burgher-guards are forming, 

**Gluckstadt is surrounded. If the place be not 
surrendered by the first post, it will be stormed. The 
garrison had established near the village of Soenfloth, 
in a very advantageous position, a battery of four thir- 
teen pounders, with 200 infantry to serve it. A bat- 
talion of the brigade of General de Boyle made itself 
master of tlie battery, pursued the enemy under tiie 
grape-shot fire of the fortress, and made many pris- 
oners. 

<*A11 the preparations had been made to attack the 
fortress of Fredericksort; the troops of the second 
brigade, under General Baion de Posse, were at 300 
paces from tlie wall. After a very sharp fire, which 
lasted a day and night, and which our soldiers sus- 
tained with their northern sang-froid, the conimand- 
ant capitulated on the nineteenth. "We found in the 



349 

place, 101 pieces of cannon, much ammunition, includ- 
ing four or 500 quintals of powder. The garrison are 
prisoners of war." 



Whilst the negotiations for a peace with Denmark 
were carrying on, the French Marshal Davoust, who 
commanded in Hamburg, exercised the most wanton 
and tyrannical conduct towards the inhabitants, and 
upwards of 30,000 men, women, and children were 
forced to leave their houses, destitute of every means 
of support. 

The following is an extract from the French Mar- 
shal's orders of the twentieth of December; 

"The following shall leave the city within twenty- 
four hours, that is, on the twentieth, between twelve 
and two, viz. — all inhabitants born without the walls 
of Hamburg, 

**1. All Foreigners, of both sexes, who have not 
their usual residence in the city, and have paid no di- 
rect tax since the first of January, 1813. 

"2. All students born out of Hamburg. 

*«3. All commercial servants, journeymen, manufac- 
turers, and apprentices, born out of Hamburg, and not 
named in the list of the fifth article. 

**4. *^A11 beggars and vagabonds. 
46 



350 

*<6, Excepted from tlic rest are labourers employed 
Oil the fortifications, or other public works, by the en- 
gineers or artillery, on the bridges and causeway?, 
and with the civil and military authorities," &c. 

The Prince Royal of Sweden, on hearing of the 
above order, instantly directed the sum of 40,000 dol- 
lars to be dedicated to their immediate relief, and sub- 
scriptions for the same purpose were opened in diflfer- 
ent towns on the continent. The following address 
to the exiled Hamburgers was also issued by order of 
the Prince Royal. 

"By an order of the twentieth of December, the 
Prince of Eckmuhl turned jou out of your homes and 
plunged you into misery. Do not give way to des- 
pair; be firm, be courageous. As the faithful inter- 
preter of the principles which guide the allied powers, 
the Prince Royal of Sweden calls you to him, and of- 
fers you relief. 

*<lf it is a misfortune that you were not enabled to 
provide yourselves and families with provisions for 
six months, let the consideration that you will not be 
witnesses to the sufferings which threaten your unfor- 
tunate city be your consolation. 

**His Royal Highness the Prince Royal of Sweden, 
informed of the measures adopted at Hamburg, has is- 
sued the following orders, which are to be made pub- 
lic in all places occupied by tlie army under his com- 
mand, i. e. throughout Holstein, and from the gates of 
Hamburg to the gates of old France. 

*'Those Hamburgers, who, in consequence of the 



S5t 

orders issued by Marshal Davoiist on tlie sixteenth of 
December, have been compelled to leave the city o^ 
Hambura:, will be received with every attention by 
the allied army of the North of Germany. 

"Clothing and provision will be distributed to thera 
iu proportion to their wants. 

"Those among them who choose to contribute to- 
wards the liberation of the city of Hamburg from the 
tyranny under which it groans, will receive arms and 
pay as the rest of tlie army. They will form part of 
the national guard of the city of Hamburg. 

**The aged, the women, and children, shall receive 
particular protection; their wants shall be supplied. 

*'The towns of Oldeslohe and Segeberg aire ^xed 
upon as rendezvous places for those Hamburgers who 
choose to join the standard of the troops destined to 
liberate Hamburg. 

<*The cities of Lubeck and Bremen are fixed upon 
for the reception of the aged, the women, and chil- 
dren. 

<*In order that the assistance may be prompt, and 
that the situation of the unfortunate Hamburgers be 
immediately ameliorated, 40,000 dollars are granted to 
supply their immediate wants. This first advance 
shall be drawn from the funds destined for the pay 
and supplies of the Swedish army. Within forty-eight 
hours, measures will be taken for the restoration of the 
advances issued out of the Sw«?dish military chest. 



<'The execution of the order shall be intrusted to 
the care of a special commission. This commission 
shall consist of three members, viz. of an exiled citi- 
zen of Hamburg, named by the Chief of the Staff; of 
an inhabitant of Lubeck, and of one of the city of 
Bremen, appointed by the magistrates of the respective 
places. 

"The members of the commission shall proceed to 
the head-quarters of his Royal Highness, there to re- 
ceive instructions on the mode of management which 
they shall have to pursue, in order to give an account 
of the disposal of the 40,000 dollars, which will be 
handed over to the commission by the intendant gen- 
eral of the army. 

*«The commission is authorized to afford subsequent 
relief, after the 40,000 dollars, are exhausted. 

*<B. Spaare, Major-General. 
^'Head-quarters, Kiel, December, 24, 1813." 



About this period, the annexed proclamation was 
issued from the head-quarters of the Prince Royal of 
Sweden. 

''Inhabitants of Holstein! — 
**The allied army of the North of Germany has now 
entered your borders, after your government had re- 
fused to accept the repeated offers of the allies to join 
the general cause of Europe. 



303 

*«The treaties between the allies have joined Nor- 
way to the kingdom of Sweden: compensations whicij^ 
ensure your political existence, were fixed for Den- 
markj but your government has refused every thing. 

"From this present moment, Holstein will be taken 
in possession, as a pledge for the cession of Norway 
to Sweden. 

^^Inhabitants of Holstein! — Do not meddle in politi- 
cal matters. The peaceable inhabitants will be pro- 
tected; the fomenters of troubles punished; the army 
shall observe the strictest order and discipline; a pro- 
visional government will be appointed, consisting of 
respectable citizens, distinguished for their talents, 
conduct, and probity: they will be charged with the 
care of the internal government of the country, and 
with the protection of your interests. Obey such di- 
rections as they, influenced by the circumstances of 
the times, shall give you." 



THIRTY-SECOND BUXLETIKT. 

Head-quarters, Kiel, December 26, 1813, 

♦ *«Some armed gun vessels from Hamburg having 
approached Blankanese, probably with the view of 
capturing some boats that were there. General Woron- 
zoff sent a detachment of troops, with one piece of can- 
non, to the bank of the Elbe. On thisj, an action took 



S54j 

place with the French vessels, which carried eight 
cannon: forty Russian light infantry were erabarkert 
in boats, in order to carry the enemy by boarding; but 
notwithstanding his superiority, he thought proper to 
make off, favoured by the wind, and was long pursued 
by the Russians. The commandant of the gun boats 
was killed." 

*<Major-General Boye, who commanded the troops 
before Gluckstadt, having ordered the regiment of 
Kronberg to make itself master of a piece of ground 
which, in advance of the fortress, was defended by a 
battery of heavy artillery, the garrison, at the signal 
of a gun fired from the fortress, made a sally. The;; 
action was very severe, and the enemy were driven 
back within his walls with considerable loss. The 
ground was maintained, and the works upon it for- 
warded, amidst a heavy fire of grape shot from the 
fortress. The regiment of Kronberg had several 
men killed and wounded in this affair, among whoni 
are two officers. The batteries will be completed on 
the twenty-fifth. 

«'The King of Denmark having applied for an ex- 
tension of the armistice, it has been prolonged to the 
sixth of January. This interval is doubtless a long 
one; but however injurious it may be, as far as res- 
pects the allies, they will not regret it, provided the 
basis of peace with Denmark is laid before its termi- 
nation. Advantageous conditions have been offered 
to that government by Sweden: it is to be hoped, for 
the general good, aid for the advantage of that go- 
vernment itself, they will be accepted. Impartial 
Europe will know how to appreciate as it deserves 



the jmaa^naiiimity of this offer, which conveys a new 
proof of the moderation of Sweden, and lier upright 
wishes attain to restore peace to the North. Norway 
was secured to her by the most sacred and solemn 
treaties,' never had any guarantee a more majestic sig-^ 
nature, and never did any nation rely with more con- 
fidence than Sweden upon treaties which deliver the 
Scandinavian peninsula from the influence and policy 
of Napoleon. The hopes of peace have improved the 
Danish paper money 100 per cent. This is the mon- 
itor of the opinion of the nation^ the moment hostile 
operations are renewed, the paper will no longer have 
any value. 

<*Tji the mean time, amidst existing protestations, 
an Anglo-Russian and Prussian convoy has been at- 
tacked in the Sound by privateers under the Danish 
and Frencli flags, and must have fallen into the hands 
of these pirates, had they not been protected by Swe- 
dish ships of war. This convoy was laden with valu- 
able merchandize, and, among other things, with mus- 
feets and military clothing. 

"Since the commencement of the armistice, a Rus- 
sian ofiicer, with dispatches from Franckfort for Count 
Wallmoden, having lost his way, came under the walls 
of Rundsburg. Being brought before the command- 
ant of the fortress, his dispatches were taken from him, 
broke open, and read. Two of them, which were ad- 
dressed to the English minister, have been kept back 
by the commandant. 



356 



ttiSBnBui,] 



THlRTY-TfillRD BUXLETIN. 

Head-quarterSf Kiel, Jan. 6, 1814. 

**The Danish government having rejected the basis 
proposed to it for a pacification, hostilities have this 
day been recommenced in the morning. 

«*The blockade of Rendsburg was formed, and the 
advanced posts of the garrison were compelled to retire 
under the cannon of the place. 

**A governour-general for the duchies of Holstein 
and Ichleswich is appointed. 

^*An enemy's corps of more than 10,000 men, with 
from twenty -five to thirty pieces of cannon, has made 
an attack on Breda. General Benkendorfif, who de- 
fended the place, supported by a combined movement 
of Generals Bulow and Graham, forced the enemy to 
retire. That general conducted himself on this, as on 
all other occasions, with the courage and coolness 
which characterize him, and the talents by which he 
is distinguished. 

"Colonel Narischini has undertaken an expedition 
on the left bank of the Rhine, and has taken prisonei*s 
the colonel of the twentieth regiment of chasseurs, an 
inferiour officer, and some soldiers. 

"A part of the army of the General-in-chief, Count 
Benningsen, has relieved the corps of Lieutenant-Gen- 
eral Count Woronzoff, before Hamburg. The occu- 



357 

pation of Oclisenwerder, which his troops have taken, 
very much disquiets the Prince of Eckmuhl: he has 
made several attempts to transport troops thither hy 
hoats, hut they have been constantly driven back by 
the Russian sharp-shooters. The desertion from the 
troops which form the garrison is considerable, 

*«The Hanseatic legion, which has just received a 
month's pay, hastened to offer that sum to the unfor- 
tunate inhabitants of Hamburg, whom the Prince of 
Eckmuhl has exijelled. This benevolent act does the 
more honour to these warriours, as the sum thus ap- 
plied was destined to purchase for them several arti- 
cles of equipment. 

"The fortress of Gluckstadt capitulated yesterday 
evening, and was occupied this morning by the Swe- 
dish troops. The garrison are prisoners of war, and 
will be transported to the island of Alsen, under an 
engagement not to serve for a year against the allies: 
the number exceeds 3000 men. General Boye and all 
the troops under his command, during this seige, have 
given proofs of valour and perseverance. The ground 
which surrounds the fortress had been inundated, and 
the besiegers had to contend against rainy and un- 
healthy weather:^ finally, the approaches to the town 
could only be made under a very vigorous fire of 
grape shot and balls. Any idea which can be formed of 
the privations and sufferings which are undergone in 
besieging a place in the middle of winter, is much be- 
low wliat the soldiers experienced on this occasion. 

"The fatigues they endured place in still higher es- 
timation the talents of the general, and the excellent 
spirit with which his corps is animated. The opera- 

47 



358 

tions of the artillery have heen directed with equal 
skill and courage by Captain Hygrell. The Swedish 
and English artillery, and the detached corps of Count 
Woronzoff, have eminently distinguished themselves. 
General Baron Boye praises highly the talents and 
zeal of Captains Thersuen and Melander of the engi- 
neers. The English Captain Farquhar, with a flotilla 
under his command, took an active and honourable 
part in the attack of the place, and greatly contributed 
to its surrender. 

**Gluckstadt is a place of great importance to the 
navigation of the Elbe. It has yielded us 325 pieces 
of artillery, 119 of which are brass. The assault was 
determined on, and nothing was waited for but the 
frost, in order to undertake it. Count Woronzoff 
had formed a battalion of 600 picked grenadiers, to 
serve as a reserve to the Swedish troops. 

"The town of Gluckstadt was built in 1620 by 
Christian IV. on a very marshy site, and the establish- 
ment was the occasion of considerable jealousy on the 
part of the Dutch. In 1628 it was attacked by the 
celebrated Tilly, who, after fifteen weeks of uninter- 
rupted operations, was obliged to raise the siege. In 
the expedition of Torstenson, Gluckstadt and Krempe 
were the only places in these duchies which the Swe- 
dish troops did not occupy. 

"The allied army has taken 470 pieces of artillery 
since its entrance into Holstein. 

"They are labouring at the demolition of the for- 
tress of Fredericksoit: tiie navigation of tlie Baltic 
and Belts will be more free. This fortress had been 



309 

built to injure the trade of the English with the North- 
ern powers. 

«*The French commissary of war, Pregaiid, sent by 
the Prince of Eekmuhl, succeeded in gettin,^ to the 
Danish advanced posts and to Copenhagen, with in- 
structions from his government for Baron Alquier. 
General Lallemand himself was expected last week at 
the FVench minister's, 

«*Orders to sink all the pirates have been renewed 
to the Swedish navy. These pirates did much harm 
to the English, Russian, Prussian, and Swedish trade 
in the Baltic. 

*'The ports of the Cimhrian Peninsula have just 
been opened to the allied flags. This country, which 
has so much suffered by the continental system, will 
see its commerce flourish again, and its prosperity re- 
vive. The Norwegians, who have experienced 3,11 the 
miseries of want and distress, will immediately be in- 
formed that their union with Sweden will have for its 
first basis the same advantages that have just been re- 
stored to the inhabitants of the Cimhrian Peninsula: 
henceforward Norway, free and happy, will no longer 
be governed as a colony, and will enjoy all its political 
rights," 



The obstinacy of Denmark occasioned a re-com- 
mencement of hostilities. In the course of three days, 
the whole duchy of Sleswick was consequently taken 



360 

possession of, and in all directions, by the light troops 
under General Tettenborn, after having, in conjuiic- 
tion with General Domberg, so completely invested 
the fortress of Rendsburg, that neither the garrison, 
nor even the cavalry belonging to it, could find an 
opportunity of making a sally, for which orders had 
been given, on account of the scarcity reigning in the 
town. 

The list of conquests made by the Prince Royal's 
army every day increased: Holstein was conquered, 
Sleswick overrun, and General Baron de Tettenborn 
had established his head-quarters within a mile or two 
of Colding, the frontier town of Jutland, when, on the 
fourteenth of January, a treaty* of peace and of al- 



* Substance of the Treaty of Peace and Mliance between 
England and Denmark. 

All conquest to be restored, except Heligoland, 

Prisoners of Mar on both sides to be released. 

Denmark to join the allies with 10,000 men, if England 
will give a subsidy of 400,000/. in the year 1814. 

Stralsund still to continue a d»pot for English produce. 

Demark to do all in her power to abolish the slave 
trade. 

England to mediate between Denmark and the other 
allies. 

The following is a Cojnj of the Treaty between Denmark 
and Sweden 
' Kiel, Jan. 14, 1814. 

"In the name of the most holy and ever blessed Trinity: 
"His Majesty the King of Sweden, and his Majesty the 
King of Denmark, impressed with a wish to put an end 
to the calamities of the war «hich has unfortunately sub- 
sisted between them, by means of a salutary peace, and to 
restore good understanding between their States, have for 
this purpose, and upon bases which will secure the dura- 
tion of peace, respectively appointed the following pleni- 
potentiaries: viz, bis Majesty the King of Sweden the 



liance in the war was signed by Mr. Thornton on the 
part of En.gland, and by Baron dc Witterstedt for 
Swedenj according to which, 10,000 Danes, who were 
at Rendsburg, were immediately united with the array 
of the North of Germany, under the Prince Royal, 
and which augmented his Royal Highness's force to 
120,000. 



Prussians 


25,000 


Russians 


35,000 


Swedes 


20,000 


Saxons 


10,000 


Djines . . . . . , . 


10,000 


General Wallmoden's corps 


15,000 


Lutzow, Schill and General Tetterborn's 




corps, and the Hanseatic legion 


5,000- 


Total . . 


120,000 



Baron Gustaf Von Witterstedt, Court Chancellor, Com- 
mandant of the Polish order of the Star, Knight of the 
Prussian Red Eagle of the first class, Member of the 
Swedish Academy; and his Majesty the King of Denmark 
Mr. Edmund Von Bourke, Great Cross of the order of 
Dannebrog, and Knight of the White Eagle; who, having 
exchanged their full powers in good and due form, have 
agreed upon tlie following articles: 

Art. 1. There shall henceforward be peace, friendship, 
and good understanding between bis Majesty the Kingt)f 
Sweden and his Majesty the King of Denmark. The high 
contracting parties shall do every thing in their power to 
maintain perfect harmony between each other their res- 
pective States and subjects, and avoid all measures which 
might be prejudicial to the peace happily restored be- 
tween them. 

"Art. 2. As his Majesty the King of Sweden has unal- 
terably determined in no respect to separate the interests 
of the allies from his own; anl as his Majesty the King of 
Denmark is desirous that his subjects may again enjoy all 



36S 

On the seventeenth of January, the Prince Royal 
issued the following bulletin, in which he emphatical- 
ly observes, that the nations of the North do not look 
on the French as enemies, but on him who has done 
every thing to prevent their union; on him who, it 
cannot be too often repeated, has wished to enslave all 
nations, and to ravish from all, their country. 



THIRTY-FOURTH BULLETIN, 

*'Head-qaarters, Kiel, Jan, 17, 1814, 

**The peace of Denmark with Sweden and England 
was signed on the fourteenth of January. On Sun- 

the blessings of peacej and as his Majesty has a]so}re- 
ceived, through the instrumentality of his Royal High^ 
ness the Prince Royal of Sweden, positive assurances on 
the part of the courts of Rbssia and Prussia, of their ami- 
cable disposition to restore their old connexions of friend- 
ship with the Danish court, such as they existed before 
the breaking out of hostilities, so they solemnly charge 
and bind themselves on their side, to neglect nothing that 
may tend to a speedy peace between his Majesty the 
King of Denmark, and tbeir Majesties the Emperour of 
Russia and King of Prussia; his Majesty the King of 
Sweden engages to use his mediation witb his high allies, 
that this sulutary object may be as speedily as possible 
attained. 

"Art. 3. His Majesty the King of Denmark, for the 
purpose of giving a manifest proof of his wish to renew 
the closest relations with the high allies of his Swedish 
Majesty, and in the full conviction that the most earnest 
wishes are cherished on their side to restore a speedy 
peace, as they have solemnly declared before the breakr 
ing put of hostilities, engages to take an active part in 
the common cause against th^ Emperour of the French, 



363 

day, the sixteenth, there was a grand parade; a solemn 
Te Deum was chaunted by way of thanksgiving, and 
numerous salutes of artillery were fired. The treaty 
has been sent to his Majesty the King of Denmark, 
and the ratification is expected by Wednesday next. 
The whole army is putting itself in march for the 
Rhine. There is no longer any rivalship among the 
nations of the North; they have acknowledged that 
they have the same interests. United for the noblest 
object, tl)ey will combat together for the liberty of the 
Continent, the independence of Sovereigns and of 
nations. The nations of the North do not look upon 

to declare against that power, and in consequence to join 
an auxiliary Danish corps to the army of North Germa- 
ny* under the orders of his Royal Highness the Prince 
Royal of Sweden; and all this according to a.nd in pur- 
suance of the convention that has been settled between his 
Majesty the King of Denmark, and his Majesty the King 
of Great-Britain and Ireland. 

"Art, 4. His Majesty the King of Denmark, for him- 
self and his successours, renounces for ever and irrevoca- 
bly, all his rights and claims on the kingdom of Norway, 
together with possession of the bishoprieks and dioceses 
of Christiansaud, Bergenhuus, Aggerhuus, and Dron- 
theim, besides Nordland and Finmark, as far as the fron- 
tiers of the Russian empire. 

"These bishoprieks, dioceses, and provinces, constitu- 
ting the kingdom of Norway, with their inhabitants, 
towns, hai'bours, fortresses, villages, and islands, along 
the whole coast of that kingdom, together with their de- 
pendencies, (Greenland, the Ferroe Isles, and Iceland ex- 
cepted;) as well as ail privileges, rights and emoluments, 
thereto belonging, shall belong, in full and sovereign prop- 
erty, to the king of Sweden, and make one with his uni- 
ted kingdom. For this purpose his Majesty the King of 
Denmark binds himself, in the most solemn manner, as 
well for himself as for his successours, and the whole king- 
dom, henceforward, to make no claim, direct or indirect, 
on the kingdom of Norway, or its bishoprieks, dioceses, 
islands, or any other territory thereto belonging. All the 
inhabitants, in virtue of this renunciation, are released 



364 

the French as enemies,* they recognize no other enemy 
but him who has done every thing to prevent their 
union; him who, it cannot be too often repeated, has 
wished to enslave all nations, and to ravage from all, 
their country." 



The King of Denmark lost no time in recalling his 
minister at Paris, and in preparing to give efficient aid 



from the oath" which they have taken to the King and 
Crown of Norway. 

"Art. 5. His Majesty the King of Sweden binds him- 
self, on the other hand, in the most solemn manner, to 
cause the inhabitants of the kingdom of Norway, and its 
dependencies, to enjoy, in future, all the laws, franchises, 
rights, and pi'ivileges, such as they have hitherto sub- 
sisted. 

"Art. 6. As the whole debt of the Danish Monarchy 
is contracted as well upou Norway as the other parts of the 
kingdom, so his Majesty theKing of Sweden binds himself, 
as sovereign of Norway, to be responsible for a part of that 
debt, proportioned to the population and revenue of Nor- 
way. By public debt is to be understood that which has been 
contracted by the Danish government, both at home and 
abroad. The latter consists of Royal and State obliga- 
tions, bank bills, and paper money, formerly issued under 
Royal authority, and now circulating in both kingdoms. 

"An exact account of this debt, such as it was on the 
1st of January, 1814, shall be taken by commissioners 
appointed to that eftect l)y both crowns, and shall be eal- 
cniated upon a just division of the population and reve- 
nues of the kingdoms of Norway .and Denmark. These 
commissioners shall meet at Copenhagen, witliin one ntonth 
after the exchange of the ratification of this treaty, and 
shall bring this affair to a conclusion as speedily as possi- 
ble, aiul at least before the expiration of the present year; 
with this understanding, however, that the King of Swe- 
den, as Sovereign of Norway, shall be responsible for no 
other portion of tie debt contracted by I)enmark, than 
tliat for which Norway was liable before its separation. 



to the allied Powers. In the annexed declaration he 
furnishes the world with farther proofs of the intrigues 
and deceitful promises of Napoleon Buonaparte, and 
the sufFerin.efs every state must undergo which attempts 
to support him in his ambitious projects: — 

**By the care of the Danish government the war 
which already for fifteen years has devastated Eu- 
rope, had not disturbed the repose of the Danish 
nation^ when the King, for a moment, saw himself 
Tinder the necessity of using defensive means, partly 
for the security of his province bordering on Ger- 

*'Art. 7. His Majesty the King of Sweden, for himself 
and his suecessours, renounces, irrevocabfy, and forever, 
in behalf of the King of Denmark, all rights and claim to 
the dukedom of Swedish Pomerania, and the principality 
of the Island of Rugea. 

"These provinces, with all their inhabitants, towns, 
havens, fortresses, villages, islands, and all their depen- 
dencies, privileges; rights, and emoluments, shall belong 
in full sovereignty to the Crown of Denmark, and be in- 
corporated with that kingdom. 

"For this purpose, his Majesty the King of Sweden en- 
gages, in the most solemn manner, both for himself, his 
suecessours, and the whole Swedish kingdom, never to 
make any claim, direct or indirect, on the said provinces, 
islands, and territory; the inhabitants whereof, in virtue 
of this renunciation, are released from the oath which 
they have taken to the King and Crown of Sweden. 

"Art, 8. His Majesty the King of Denmark solemnly 
engages, in like manner, to secure to the inhabitants of 
Swedish Pomerania, the Islands of Rugen and their depen- 
dencies, their laws, rights, franchises, and privileges, such 
as they now exist, and are contained in the acts of the 
years 1810 and 1811. 

"As the Swedish paper money has never been current 
in Swedish Pomerania, so his Majesty the King of Den- 
mark engages to make no alteration in this respect, with- 
out the knowledge and consent of the States of the prov- 
ince. 

"Art. 9. As his Majesty the King of Sweden, by th^ 



366 

many. The attack made by the English on his Ma- 
jesty's capital, and carrying off the Danish fleet in 
the year 1807, put an end to the happy tranquility 
which his majesty had until then been enabled to pre- 
serve for his subjects. The Danish States at that time 
had the same common enemy with France, and the 
consequence was, that an alliance was souglit and con- 
cluded, with that Power. The Emperour openly and 
directly promised men and money, and a numerous 
army immediately moved into the provinces of his Ma- 
jesty the King. It was agreed that the expense of its 

sixth article of the treaty of alliance, entered into at Stock- 
holm, the thirdof March, 1813, with his Majesty the King 
ofGreatBritain and Ireland, bound himself to open, for the 
period of twenty years, reckoning from the date of the ex- 
change of the ratification of the treaty, the port of Stral- 
»iind, as an entrepot for all colonial produce, merchandize, 
and manufactures brought from England and her colonies, 
in l^nglish or Swedish vessels, upon payment of one per 
cent, ad valorem on thegoods thus introduced, and an equal 
duty on their removal from thence; so his Majesty the 
King of Denmark engages to fulfil this existing agree- 
ment, and to renew the same in his treaty with Great 
Britain. 

"Art. 10. The public debt, which is contracted by the 
Royal Pomeranian Chamber, remains chargeable on the 
King of Denmark, as Sovereign of the Dukedom of Po- 
nierania, who takes upon himself the stipulations agreed 
upon for the reduction of the said debt. 

"Art. 11 The King of Denmark recognizes the dona- 
tions which the King of Sweden has given on Jhe domains 
and revenues in Swedish Pomerania and the Isle of Ra- 
gen, and which amount to the yearly sum of 43,000 Pome- 
ranian rix-dollars: his Majesty also binds himself to 
maintain the donataries in the full and undisturbed pos- 
session of their rights and revenues, so tliat they may re- 
ceive, sell, or make over the same, and that all may be 
paid them without any hindrance, and without duties 
and expenses under whatsoever name. 

"Art. 12. Their Majesties the King of Sweden aud the 



367 

support should be defrayed by the French government, 
and this amounted to a sum of several inillions of rix- 
dollars. Without undertaking any thing, however, 
this army remained a burthen longer than the Danish 
government thought requisite. The expense .of its 
support remained unpaid, and the requests of Den- 
mark on this point were equally fruitless as those con- 
cerning the announced requisitions in money. The 
situation of the State, whose resources were already 
diminished by the naval war, and by these novel dis^ 
bursements, became totally exhausted; and again 
suffered a most prejudicial influence from the shut* 

King of Denmark mutually engage never to divert from 
their original destination, monies appropriated to objects 
of beneficence or public utility, in the countries thus re- 
ciprocally obtained by the present treaty, namely, the 
kingdom of Norway and the dukedom of Swedish Pome- 
rania, with their respective depeudeneies. 

<'The King of Sweden, in pursuance of this mutual 
agreement, engages to support the Universities of Nor- 
way, and the King of Denmark that of Greiswald. 

•'The payment of all public offices, both in Norway and 
Pomerania, is to remain a charge upon the acquiring 
power, reckoning from the day of taking possession. 

"Pensioners are to receive the pensions assigned to them 
by the preceding government, without interruption or 
change. 

"Art. 13. As the King of Sweden, so far as is practi- 
cable, and as depends upon him, wishes that the King of 
Denmark may receive compensation for the renunciation 
of the kingdom of Norway, of which his Majesty has 
given satisfactory proof in the cession of Swedish Pome- 
rania and the Isle of Rugen, so his Majesty will use all 
his endeavours with the allied powers to secure in addi- 
tion to a general peace, a full equivalent to Denmark for 
the cession of Norway. 

"Art. 14. Immediately upon the signing of the present 
treaty, an account of the same shall be sent, with all pos- 
sible speed, to the generals and armies, in order that hos- 
tilities may wholly cease on both sides, both by sea and 
land. 



368 

tiii^ of the continental ports, which was represent- 
erl as one of the means for obtaining a general peace. 
The annexation of the Hanse Towns, and the contigu- 
ous provinces to the French empire, became after- 
wards a most heavy burthen, with regard to the com- 
mercial intercourse with Germany. Its effects ex- 
tended even to literary connexions. Earnest profes- 
sions, which were frequently renewed, had given hopes 
that these obstacles, which were so directly contrary 
to the good understanding which his majesty did all in 
bis power to remain in with the French government, 
would have been removed; but these hopes always re- 
mained unfulfilled. Whilst the French army was re- 
treating in the winter between 1812 and 1813, the im- 

"Art. 15. The high contracting parties engage, that 
immediately after the signing of the present treaty, all 
contributions and requisitions, of whatever kind and de- 
nomination, shall immediately cease, so as that even 
those which shall have been already ordered shall not be 
enforced. It is likewise agreed, that ail property which has 
been sequestrated by the army of North Germany shall 
be restored to the owners. Herefrom are excepted, such 
ships and ship-ladings as belonged to subjects of the King 
of Sweden and his allies, and have been brought into the 
harbours of the duchies of Schleswig and Holstein; these 
shall remain with their present owners, who shall dis- 
pose of them as they think fit. 

"(This article then arranges the niode in which the 
places in Holstein and Schleswig, possessed by the allied 
troops, are to be evacuated by them.) 

"Immediateiy on the signing of the present treaty the 
Swedish troops shall euter JVorway, and take possession 
of all the strong places there, his Majesty the King of 
Denmark binds himself to give the uecessary orders to 
that effect. 

"The Swedish troops shall deliver up Swedish Pome- 
rania, and the Isle of liugcn, to the troops of the King of 
Denmark, as soon as the fortresses of Frederickshull, 
Konigswinger, Frederiekstadt, and Aggerlnius have beei| 
taken possession of by the Swedish troops." 



pcrial troops, which, according to a particular agree- 
ment, were to have remained for the protection of the 
frontiers of Holstein, were drawn away. As the 
French government had at the same time declared its 
intention of entering into negotiations for peace with 
all her enemies, the King deemed it important for 
him to make overtures of peace to Great Britain. — 
The alliance of France was now hecome of no utility. 
The King would willingly have prevented the cities 
of Hamburg and Lubeck from again falling into the 
hands of the French, in order to keep the war from hi/ 
own frontiers, and save from destruction those citif' 
whose interests stood in such direct connexion w**! 
those of his subjects; but his majesty was obliged t/^^- 
sist from the prosecution of this plan. His inte'^ts, 
therefore, required, that he should accept tlv offer 
made him, of renewing the alliance with Fra,i'f*? ^nd 
to give it a longer extension, in order to assi/« him of 
a powerful assistance against those Sove^^ns, who 
had not hesitated to declare, that they w^<l support 
the demands of Sweden, which Were s/^"i"iical to 
the integrity of the States. 

"The King, on his part, conscien0usly performed 
the stipulations of the treaty. W/ilst his auxiliary 
troops were fighting by the side / the French, they 
received only a part of the pav/ which, according to 
the agreement, was their due,*yAnd his Majesty's sub- 
jects suffered a considerable/)ss, as well by the em- 
bargo laid on their propert/, which was deposited in 
the cities of Lubeck and Ha/nburg, of which the French 
government took to itself the privilege of disposal, as 
by taking away the funds of the bank in the last men- 
tioned city. The promises of restoration given, in con- 
sequence of the complaint thereon made, remained 



370 

equally with the reclamations made on the subject, 
without effect. 

**It was assured by the treaty, that 20,000 men 
should be in readiness to protect the Duchies and Jut- 
land; but Marshal d'Eckmuhl quitted the position 
which covered those provinces, and retreated with all 
the troops under his command to Hamburg, leaving 
the King's troops to their fate, and who were not able 
to withstand the superiour force which was moving 
forward to effect an entrance into the country. The 
demy's irruption into the Duchies, together with the 
l<^ of the fortresses, was followed by the King's being 
fotyjakeii by an ally, on whose assistance he had rea- 
sonljie grounds for placing a reliance, 

<*HK Majesty has been under the necessity of con- 
senting V) the greatest sacrifices, to protect the re- 
maining vart of his States from invasion, with which 
they were hreatened by the combined troops of sev- 
eral Powers and for the purpose of again recovering 
possession oithose provinces which had fallen into the 
enemy's powei, 

♦«He recalled h^ minister at the court of the French 
Emperour, and dedared to the minister of his Impe- 
rial Majesty, residing at his court, that he could no 
longer consider him is being in that capacity, and 
that opportunity shouldbe given him for his return to 
France. 

««His Majesty likewise declares, that he will join the 
Sovereigns, united against France, in order to assist 
in bringing about a general peace, for which all the 



37* 

nations of Europe are languishing, and which is sd 
necessary for the Danish States, 

"Middlefastf the ±7th January, 1814.** 



By the peace with Denmark the Prince Royal was 
enabled to direct his victorious steps to the Rhine, and 
give the support of his auxiliary troops to the grand 
undertakings of the allies, who were at this period in 
the centre of France, 

Accordingly General Benningsen was left with 
30,000 men to form the siege of Hamburg, and 5000 
of the Russian German Legion to blockade Harburg, 
whilst the remainder moved forward to the principal 
scene of action. 

At nine o'clock on the fourth February, the Prince 
Royal arrived at Hanover, where an interview took 
place betwen his Royal Highness and the Duke of 
Cambridge, 

On the tenth, the Prince Royal, in person, crossed 
the Rhine, with the intention of uniting the whole of 
his army upon a line between Soissons and Rheims. 

On the twelfth, his Royal Highness issued the an- 
, nexed bulletin from Cologne. 



372 



THIRTY-FIFTH BULLETIN. 

*^Head-quarterSf Cologne, Feb. 1, 1814. 

<*The Prince Royal set out from Buckeburg on the 
ninth, to proceed by Lipstadt and Charfeldt to Co- 
logne, where his Royal Highness arrived on the tenth 
at night. He passed the Rhine amidst the sound of 
cannon, and both banks resounded with the acclama- 
tions of the inhabitants. The whole population of 
Cologne went out to meet him at the river side; and 
never was the enthusiasm of a people, delivered from 
an oppressive yoke, expressed with more unanimity 
and ardour. The city w'as illuminated at night. Yes- 
terday there was a grand ball, which his Royal High- 
ness honoured with his presence. 

*«As the combined army of the North of Germany 
is about to commence a more active campaign in these 
countries, it is necessary to state the march of the 
different corps that compose it, and the ulteriour pros- 
pects of the Prince Royal. 

"The corps of General Bulow^ forming the right of 
the army, is in the environs of Brumts, and has push- 
ed its advanced posts in the direction of Mons. 

*<General Winzingerode, whose head-quarters are 
at Namur, forms the centre. He has already got pos- 
session of the towns of Mons, Avesnes, and Rheims, 
of which he has sent the keys to the Prince Royal, 
who will transmit them to the Emperour Alexander. 



373 

"The corps of Count Woronzoff, which has passed 
the Rhine here, takes also the direction of Namur to 
come in contact with that of Winzingerode, General 
StrogonoJOT is about to follow it, 

<*The advanced guard of the Swedish army will b« 
on the twenty-first upon the Rhine, so that the whole 
army will have passed the river before the end of the 
month. 

«The Danish troops take the route of DusseldorfF, 
passing by Bremen and Munster, and will proceed 
from thence further on the line of operations. The 
intention of his Royal Highness is to unite the whole 
army under his orders upon a line between Soissons 
and Rheims, and then to act according to circumstan- 
ces. 

"On the twelfth of February the Prince Royal 
made the following address to the French people; in 
which he strongly points out the severe miseries of 
their past situation:— 



" *T0 the French People,. 

« ^Frenchmen! — At the command of my King I 
have taken up arms, for the purpose of defending the 
rights of the Swedish people. After having revenged 
the insults which they had suffered, and assisted in ef- 
fecting the liberation of Germany, I have passed the 
Rhine, 

** <At the moment when I again see this river, on 
the borders of which I have so often, and so success- 
*9 



374 

fully fought for you, I feel the necessity of again ap- 
prizing you of my sentiments. 

** <The government under which you live has con- 
tinually had in view to treat you with contempt, in 
order that it might debase you; it is high time that this 
state of things undergo an alteration. 

<* *A11 enlightened people express their wishes for 
the welfare of France; but they at the same time wish 
that she may no longer be the scourge of the earth. 

*< <The allied monarchs have not united themselves 
to make war upon the people, but to force your govern- 
ment to acknowledge the independence of other States: 
this is their sole motive and aim, and I will pledge mj- 
self for the integrity of their sentiments. 

« 'Adopted son of Charles XIII. and placed, by the 
choice of a free people, at the foot of the throne of the 
Gustavuses, I can henceforward be animated with no 
other ambition, than that of securing the happiness of 
the Scandinavian Peninsula; and at the same time, ray 
principal happiness will consist (after having fulfilled 
this sacred duty to my adopted country) in securing 
the future happiness of my former countrymen. 

«« 'Given at my head-quarters at Cologne, this 
twelfth of February, 1814, 

(Signed) ♦•' * Charles John.' " 

Shortly after the publication of this document, the 
Prince Royal removed his head-quarters to Liege, 
where his Royal Highness remained with tlie Swedish 
army whilst the rest of the allies, aided by the Rus- 



375 

sian troops that harl been attached to the army of the 
North of Germany, vigorously pursued their successes 
into the heart of France, and finally, by their united 
exertions, reached Paris; destroyed the dynasty of 
Napoleon, and restored the throne of France to its 
lawful heir. 

It is in this place that I must come to a conclusion 
of the military career of the Prince Royal. Many 
have reproved the conduct of his Royal Highness for 
remaining at Liege; but a short time will be sufficient 
to shew to the world the policy by which his Royal 
Highness was actuated, and enable them to form a 
temperate and unbiassed opinion thereon. 



876 



I CANNOT close this work without offering a few 
remarks on the private character and disposition of 
the Prince Royal, although of minor import than 
those strong and peculiar features tliat mark his pub- 
lic career. 

The domestic virtues of his Royal Highness, his 
temperate and modest demeanour, his frugal and 
primitive habits, his retired yet dignified manners^ 
have rendered him very generally beloved throughout 
Sweden; and it is to the possession of such amiable 
qualities, combined with his military fame as a Gene- 
ral, that his elevation to the rank he now holds is 
principally to be attributed. 

There is in the mind of the Prince Royal of Swe- 
den a peculiar and characteristic urbanity, blended 
with a strong desire for the enjoyment and not the 
abuse of the blessings of this world; and it may justly 
be observed, that his greatest happiness is to diffuse 
with an unsparing hand to his family and to his future 
subjects every good a bountiful Providence has so 
fully enabled him to bestow. He is not one of those 
favourites of fortune, who consider the mass of man- 
kind as formed for no other use than to become the 
instruments of their aggrandizement, the slaves by 
whom their commands are to be obeyed, or as ma- 
chines their mandates can jiut in motion or stop ati 
pleasure. Even from the foot of the throne his Royal 
Highness distinguishes every rank and degree of his 
adopted countrymen; he invites and encourages them 
to the attaiiimcut of that individual happiness and 



377 

national prosperity, which is equally the result of a 
good and powerful government. 

There is not in the whole catalogue of earthly bless- 
ings, or of Heaven's gift, one which so truly gilds 
the life of man, and brightens even the darkest of the 
days of adversity, as a good and even temper. It is 
a constant support and comfort in a state of persecu- 
tion: when the passions are agitated by disappoint- 
ment, it is the friend and monitor who whispers peace 
and patience to the perturbed spirit; it is a companion 
in solitude, and an altar of eternal happiness, on which 
the virtues delight to cherish a flame that can be extin- 
guished but with life itself. The man whose temper 
and disposition is such, must also be religious, be- 
cause the divine emanation of his Creator which 
glows within his bosom, draws him instinctively and 
frequently to the contemplation of that power who 
has given him equanimity. A beneficent disposition 
is also of much importance to the prosperity of an 
individual; the whole exteriour is illumined by its 
brightness, and in the mind all is peace, harmony, and 
self-satisfaction. The man looks around him in the 
world, he feels as if among his brethren, and the 
glowing goodness which warms his bosom expands to 
all his fellow beings: he wins the good-will of those 
who approach him, and irresistibly attracts to himself 
their affection and support. It is to this equanimity, 
benevolence, and urbanity, that the Prince Royal of 
Sweden owes much of that popularity he possesses. 

The Prince Royal has had many strong prejudices 
to combat; but tliey are happily overthrown by his 
fervent perseverance in the ways of probity and truth. 
As a soldier, it was impossible even for the enemies of 



378 

his country, and those who fought against him, not te 
allow him a high and distinguished name: but as a re- 
publican he was reprobated, and as a friend and coad- 
jutor of Buonaparte, he was by many for a time dis- 
trusted. A short period has happily overthrown these 
delusive ideas, founded in errour, to the glory of the 
Prince Royal, and the confusion of his enemies, and 
his Royal Highness has, by his uncommon virtues, 
placed himself in that exalted sphere, where now all 
observe him with confidence and admiration, with 
anxiety and hope. 

As a friend and patron of the belle lettreSf the Prince 
Royal is not less distinguished; and the compositions 
that have fallen from his pen evince a thorough know- 
ledge of the various branches of literature necessary 
to form an enlightened and accomplished prince. 

The plan traced out in the following letter, and 
with which I shall conclude this work, for the instruc- 
tion of the future hope of Sweden, is the best proof of 
those excellent qualities of the heart and bead, which 
in the Prince Royal of Sweden blend and flourish in the 
most perfect unity. The matrimonial engagement of 
his Royal Highness was founded upon the purest prin- 
ciples of disinterested attachment, of mutual esteem, 
and a desire to bestow happiness: his conduct as a 
husband has been regulated by a just attention to all 
those moral obligations, which are binding only to a 
man of honour and a good Christian; and the consort 
of his Royal Highness is, from her benevolence, excel- 
lent dispositions, and exalted virtues, worthy of the 
illustrious Prince to whom she is united. 



37^ 



Letter* from Ms Eoyal Highness the Prince Royal of 
Sweden, to M, le Baron de Cederhielm. 

"Stockholm October 29, 1812. 

**M. le Baron de Cederhielm, 
**I have requested the King to appoint you gover- 
nour of my son, Prince Oscar, and his Majesty has 
been graciously pleased to attend to ray request: your 
merit has determined his choice. 

**Yo« are about to form the character of my son, 
and develope his mind: his excellent qualities will se- 
cond your efforts. In attaching yourself to him, in- 
culcate the manners and customs of the country; in 
short, the national character. My desire is, that his 
education should be entirely Swedish; and the nation 

* The following is an authentic copy of the original let- 
ter of his Royal Highness, and was communicated to Mr. 
Fhilippart, by his Excellency the Baron de Rahausen, 
Swedish ambassadour at this court: 

fiStockholnif le 39 Octobre, 1812. 

«M. le Boron de Cederhielm, 

*'J'ai prie ie roi de vous noramer gouverneur do Prince 
Oscar mon fils, et Sa Majeste a bien voulu m'accorder ma 
demande; votre merite a determine son choix. 

"Vous allez former le cceur de mon fils et developper 
son esprit; ses heureuses dispositions vous seeonderont: 
en vous attachant, a lui inculquer les moeurs et les habi-r 
tudes du pays, en un mot, le charactere national, vous 
aurez satisfait mon desir que son education soit entiere- 
ment Suedoise, et la nation vous deivra tout le bien qui 
resultera des soins que vous vous sere? donnes. 

f'Je desire que vous portiez toute votre attention a lui 



380 

will be indebted to you for all the benefits that shall 
result from your labours. 

"I desire that you exert yourself to instil in him a 
habit of diligence, and that he should profit by the 
lessons given for his instruction. 

*<You will fortify in his mind the sentiments of re- 
ligion, morality, a love for the laws and his country. 

"You will impress on his memory the examples 
that the government of good kings furnish; and you 
will excite in his soul that ambition for true glory, 
which should always have for its object the desire of 
being useful to its fellow-creatures, and to contribute 
to their happiness, 

*<My son is of an age when impressions are receiv- 

faire contraeter I'habitude du travail, et a ce qu'il profite 
des lecons qui lui seront donnees pour sou instruction. 

"Vous fortifierez dans son cceur les sentimens de reli- 
gion, de morale, d'amour des lois et de la patrie. 

"Vous nourrirez sa pensee des exemple que fournissent 
les regnes des bons rois, et vous exeiterez dans son ame 
eette ambition, de la vraie gloire, qui doit tonjours avoir 
pour object le desir d'etre util a ses semblables, et de con- 
tribuer a leur bonheur. 

"Mon fils est dans un age ou on re^oit des impressions 
que I'on conserve toute ia vie, ainsi vous devrez eviter 
qu'il se forme de fausses idees sur ce que I'on appelle ea- 
raetere; lafermete qui doit etre la base de celui d'un 
Prince, ne peut jamais etre regard ee eomme une vertu 
qu'autant qu'elle est employee a propos. 

"II vous sera facile de lui faire eoncevoir que son devoir 
doit toujours etre d'aecord'avec son cceur, lorsqu'il s'agi- 
ra de venir an seeours des malbeureux; et que ses bien- 
faits doivenl porter I'empreinte de la magnanimite, et ja- 
mais celle de I'ostentation ou de la prodigalite. 

"La classe indigente doit exciter la sollicitude d'un 
prince: je desire que mon fils se penetre de cette verite. 

^'Uq prince ne doit jamais etre accessible ui a la crainte, 



3B1 

e^, that are preserved through life; therefore, yoit 
should endeavour to prevent his forming false ideas 
upon what is termed character: firmness, which ought 
to be the basis of that of a prince, can never be re- 
garded as a virtue, but when directed to a good pur- 
pose. 

"It will be easy for you to make him conceive, that 
his duty ought always to accord with his heart, when 
he shall be desirous of succouring the unfortunate, 
and that his benefactions should carry with them the 
appearance of magnaniniity, and never that of osten- 
tation or prodigality. 

"The indigent poor ought to excite the solicitude of 
a prince; I am desirous that my son should be con- 
vinced of this truth. 

<*A prince ought neither to be accessible to fear, or 

bI aux soupeons. 11 ne doit pas hesiter d'exposer sa pro- 
pre vie pour assurer la gloire et le bien-etre de son pays- 
II doit juger sans passion et avec le calme iinposant qui 
dintingue les bons souverains. Attachez-vous, M. le Ba- 
ron, a bien graver ces principes dans le cceur de mon fils. Je 
vous le remets a une evoque ou il a la force de recevoir, pour 
les conserver, toutes les notions qui peuvent coneourir au 
bonheur des Suedois. Repetez-lui sans eesse, qu'un des 
plus grands fleaux dont le ciel puisse accabler une nation, 
e'est de lui donner un prince faible; que le renversement 
des etats, la guerre civile et I'esclavage des peuples sont 
ordinairement la suite funeste de la timidite des souve- 
rains; que la guerre est de tous les maux le plus terrible 
qui puisse peser sur un etat, mais qu'il est des circonstances 
oil elle est un remede salutaire pour redonner a une na- 
tion son energie, lui faire reprendre son ancien earactere, 
et la preserver du malheur de perdre son nom pour deve- 
nir province d'un autre empire; que lorsqu'un royaume est 
ainsi menace, et qu'on ne peut pas eviter la honte sans en 
appeler an sort des ames, le prince n'est plus le praitre du 
50 



38S 

suspicious; he ought not to hesitate exposing his life 
for the glory and prosperity of his country; he ought 
to judge without passion, and with that impartiality 
that distinguishes good Sovereigns. Exert yourself, 
M. le Baron, to implant these principles in the heart 
of my son. I place him under you at a time when he 
has the strength to receive and preserve all ideas that 
may contribute to the benefit of the Swedes. Inces- 
santly repeat to him, that one of the greatest evils 
with which heaven can afflict a nation, is to give to it 
a weak prince; that the overthrow of States, civil war, 
and the slavery of the people, are generally the fatal 
results of the timidity of Sovereigns; that war is of 
all evils the most terrible that can afflict a State, but 
that there are circumstances where a salutary remedy 
exists for restoring to a nation its energy, for giving 
to it its ancient character, and to preserve it from the 
misfortune of losing its name, in becoming a province 

ehoix; il doit tout oser et tout entreprendre pour main- 
tenir Pindependance de son pays; que e'est alors que I'en- 
ergie de son ame doit se developper et qu'il doit s'entourer 
d'hommes de probite et eourageux, quels que soient du 
reste leurs priucipes politiques; son grand but etant de 
sauver la patrie, le vrai mojen d'y parvenir c'est de 
marcher reunis centre celui qui veut I'opprimer. 

"'Yous babituerez tnon fils a ne pas donner sa confiance 
a des indiscrets ou a des dissipateurs: les uns la trahissent 
par amour propre, et les autres par venalite. 

"La religion, I'hisloire, la geographic, la statistique, les 
mathematiques, Tecriture, le dessein et les exercices du 
corps seront la base de Pinstruction de mon fils pendant 
deux ans, apres lesquels je prierai le roi de erraettre qu'il 
aoit siiiviiine autre metbode. 

"L'etude de la religion conduit a celle d'une morale 
flouce et bienfaisante, vous en remplirez Tame de mon 
fils: 

*vll doit connoitre I'bistoire de tous les peuples, raaig 
dans cetfe etnde^ vous devez lui faire principalement dis- 
tinguer ceile de leur gouvernement, de leurs lois, et de 



383 

of another empire; that when a kingdom is thus threa- 
tened, and that disgrace cannot be avoided without an 
appeal to arras, the i)rince is no longer at liberty to 
choose; he ought to dare and to undertake every thing 
to maintain the independence of his country; that then 
is the time when the energy of his soul should be deve- 
loped, and when he should be surrounded by men of 
courage and probity: his principal aim being to save 
his country, the true means of effecting it is to march 
against him who would oppress it. 

"You will habituate my son not to bestow his con- 
fidence on indiscreet or dissipated persons: the former 
would betray it through self-love, and the latter 
through venality. 

*<Religion, history, geography, statistics, mathe- 
matics, penmanship, drawing, and bodily exei'cises 
should be the basis of my son's instruction for two 

I'influence qu'elles out eue sur leurs moeurs et sur la bon- 
heur public. L'art de la guerre doit plus essentiellement 
fixer I'attention de raoo fils et vos soius. Un prince, de 
nos jours, doit &tre general: on a vu le terrible inconve- 
nient d'opposer un general responsable envers son maitre, 
a un chef qui decidait de tout par lui meme; il faut done 
accoutumer mon fils, de bonne heure, a braver les saisons, 
et a tirer le plus grand parti de ^es forces, afin qu'une vie 
trop sedentaire n'influe pas a I'avenir sur sa maniere de 
voir et d'agir. Des voyages sur les nioniagnes, dans les 
mines, la natation et ^equitation sent des exercises qui 
developpent I'energie de Tame, en rappelant la guerre et 
en reveillant lidee du peril qui doit tonjours etre present© 
pour devenir famiiiere. L'etude de la geographie sera 
constamment suivie de la statistique, et priucipaleoieut 
celle de la Suede. Mon fils doit connaitre eelleci dans 
les plus petits details, pour avoir une idee juste des res- 
sources du royauine, afin qu'il ne se livre pasades illusions 
dangereuses pour le peuple et pour lui. Je desire que 
cette partie de son instruction ue se borne pas a lui en ap- 



384 

years; after which, I shall request the King to permit 
him to pursue a different method. 

"You will instil into the mind of my son a love for 
religion, which produces a mild and beneficent dispo- 
sition. 

**He ought to be well acquainted with the history of 
every nation, but in that study, you should cause him 
to attend principally to their governments, their laws, 
and the influence they have had upon the manners, 
and upon the welfare of the people. To the art of war, 
the attention of my son and your exertions should be 
particularly directed. A prince, in these days, should 
be a general: we have seen the great inconvenience of 
a general responsible to his master, being opposed to 
a chief who decides every thing for himself; it is, tliere- 
fore, essential that my son should be early instructed 
to brave the seasons, and to exercise his powers, in 
order that a too sedentary life may not hereafter affect 



prendre les chifiVes; comme il faut qu'il la eonnaisse par- 
faitement, elle se gravera dans sa memoire par des voyages 
et par des entretieus avec les homines les plus instruits de 
chaque etat: dans les provinces, des paysans et des culti- 
vateurs eclaires du canton qu'il visitera, lui donneront des 
notions sur la fertilite de leur sol, sur la nature de ses 
productions, sur le prix des deurees, sur les impots dont 
leurs terres sont grevees, etc. etc. Dans les villes, les 
gouverneurs lui feront connaitre I'administration generale 
de leurs provinces, et des juris-consultes habiles y forme- 
ront sa sbciete pendant son sejour: leur conversation ser- 
vira a lui donner une idee de la jurisprudence et des lois 
de la Suede, en attendant que son age lui permette de se 
livrer a I'elude du droit. 

"II i'audra profiter de la curiosite que ces premieres 
connaisances exciteront dans I'esprit de mon fils, pour le 
conduire dans tous les lieux ou il y aura quelque chose k 
apprendre vous ferez de ces courses un motif pour lui 
faire lire, avant et apres, ce qui pourrait y avoir rapport 
Lorsqu'il visitera des vaisseaux, il fant quil connaiss. 



385 

either his sighf or strength. Journeys upon the 
mountains, in the mines, swimming, and equitation, 
are exercises which expand the energies of the soul: 
they revive warlike ideas, and present to the imagina- 
tion, perils that ought always to he present, in order 
to become familiar. The study of geography should 
constantly be followed hy that of statistics, and 
principally those of Sweden. In this respect my son 
ought to be minutely informed, in order that he may 
have a correct idea of the resources of the kingdom, 
and not he exposed to allusions, dangerous to the na- 
tion and himself. I am desirous that this branch of 
his education should not be confined to theory, as it is 
important that he should be thoroughly master of it: it 
should be impressed on his memory by travels, and by 
conversation with the best informed men of each State: 
in the provinces, the enlightened peasants and hus- 
bandmen of the cantons that he may visit, will furnish 
him ideas of the fertility of their soil, the nature of 
its productions, the price of provisions, the imposts 

les battailles navales les plus eelebres, et qu'un marin des 
plus instruits I'accompagne pour lui expliquer, en les lui 
faisant voir, les manoeuvres qui deciderent du sort des 
combats. Quand il inspectera une tbrteresse, il doit etre 
accompagne d'un ingenieur qui puisse lui detaiiler, sur le 
terrein, la science de la fortification et eelle de I'attaque 
et de la defense des places. II puisera dans Smith les 
connaissances necessaires dans les finances et les manu- 
factures. Les ouvrages de Winkelman lui donneront une 
idee juste des beaux-arts, et il s'instruira dans la belle lit- 
terature en lisant les auteurs les plus eelebres dans ce 
genre 

La grande diificulte de leducation, c'est de diriger la 
volonte de I'eleve; il importe done de donner a mon fils 
des livres d'histoire qu'il ait du plaisir a lire, et qu'il 
lise seul; il faut qu'il rende compte de sa lecture en 
parlant plutot qu'en ecrivant; car la faculte de la parole 
est une chose plus necessaire a uu Prince de Suede qu'a 
tout autre; ainsi je pense que pour lui faciliter I'art depar- 



with which their lands are taxed, &c. &c. In the 
towns, the governours will instruct him in the general 
administration of their provinces, and learned civilians 
will constitute his society during his sojourn: their 
conversations will serve to give him an idea of the ju- 
risprudence and laws of Sweden, previous to his ago 
permitting him to devote himself to the study of law. 

<'You must take advantage of the curiosity that these 
first instructions will excite in the mind of my son, to 
conduct him to every place where there may be aught 
to learn. You will, by these means, have a motive for 
his reading before and after whatever may relate to the 
affairs he beholds. When he visits vessels, he should 
be informed of the most celebrated naval engagements, 
and an expert mariner should accompany him to ex- 
plain and shew the manoeuvres that decide the fate of 
battles. . When he inspects a fortress, he ought to be 
accompanied by a skilful engineer, who can explain to 



Jer, vous devez inviter chez mon fils una ou deux fois par 
semaine, de sept jusqu'a neuf heures du soir, des personnes 
dont vous aurez fait choix, et dont le merite vous sera 
eonnu. 

"Je desire que mon fils consacre quelques moments a 
la litterature etrangere; il y appendra a bien distinguer 
ee qui caracterise les autres nations, et a entretenir les 
etrangers sur des sujets qui partent du cercle des ques- 
tions d'un Prince. 

"11 me reste maintenant k fixer les heures de travail de 
mon fils, et ses habitudes interieures. 11 se levera k sept 
heures et demie pour commencer ses etudes k huit, et les 
contineur jusqu'a onze. 

"A onze heures, il dejeunera avec son institeur et ses 
cavaliers de service a onze heures et demie recreation 
jusqu'a une heure apres-midi. 

"Le Dimanche seulement, il seraadmis au dejeuner de 
mon fils deux personnes de votre choix. 

"Depuis une heure jusqu'a cinq heures du soir, il con- 
tinuera ses etudes; a cinq heures et demie il se rendra 



387 

Mm, upon the spot, the science of fortification, and 
that of the attack and defence of places. He will ac- 
quire in Smith the necessary knowledge of financies 
and manufactures. The Works of Winkelman will 
give him a just idea of the fine arts, and he will in- 
struct himself in the belles lettres by reading the most 
celebrated authors. 

"The principal difficulty of education is, to direct the 
will of the pupil: it remains then to give to my son, 
books of history which he may have a pleasure in read- 
ing, and which he will read alone: he must give a ver- 
bal account of his readings in preference to a written 
one; for facility of speech is a qualification more ne- 
cessary in a Prince of Sweden than any other, there- 
fore I conceive that for the purpose of advancing his 
elocution, you should invite to my son, once or twice 
a week, persons of whom you shall make choice, and 
of whose merit you shall be acquainted. 

**I wish my son to devote some time to foreign lite- 

chez moi pour y diner les Dimancbes, Mardis et Jeudis 
(les autres jours il mangera chez lui.) C'est dans les sa- 
lons et a table que, peu a peu, on apprend a connaitre lest 
hommes et a penetrer leur caractere. L'habitude du 
monde donne de Taisanee et de la grace, et previent cette 
timidite si ordinaire aux enfants eleves dans Msolement 
et dans la retraile, et si dangereuse pour un Prince qu'elle 
exposerait a devenir dupe de la hardiesse d'un ton decide 
et tranchant. En dinant chez moi, mon fils y trouvera 
reunis les premiers hommes de la Suede, il y entendra 
parler le magistral, le guerrier instruit; le politique pro- 
found, et I'adrainistrateur laborieux; ainsi cette societe 
concourra encore a son instruction sans qu'il eprouve les 
contrarietes de I'etude. 

"Depuis septheures jusqu'a neuf du soir, mon fils em- 
ployera alternativement^ ce temps, soit a faire sa cour a 
LL. MM. soit au theatre ou a quelque assemblee de bal, 



S88 

rature; he will therefrom learn to perfectly distinguish 
that which characterises other nations, and to discourse 
with foreigners upon matters that may be out of the 
line of the questions of a Prince, 

*'It remains for me to fix the hours of study for my 
son, and his interiour habits. He shall rise at half- past 
seven, to commence his lessons at eight, and continue 
them until ten. 

"At eleven o'clock, he shall breakfast with his in- 
structor and the gentlemen of his household; at half- 
past eleven recreation, until one o'clock. 

*<Two persons, chosen by you, shall he admitted to 
breakfast with my son, on Sundays only, 

soit enfin dans les soeietes qu'il doit recevoir une ou deux 
fois par semaine et dont je vous ai parle plus haut. 

"A dix heures, 11 devra toujours etre couehe. 

"Ainsi mon fils travaillera sept heures par jour, ee 
temps me parait suffisant pour son age. II vous reste, 
Monsieur le Baron, a determiner la nature des etudes qui 
devront occuper chaque heure en vous conformant a tout 
ce que je desire qui forme Mnstruction de mon fils. 

"Un des points dont j'aurais du vous entretenir en pre- 
mier analise, c'est le tendre respect que mon fils doit tou- 
jours porter au Roi. II ne doit vouloir dans aucune cir- 
constanees que ce que Sa Majeste, voudra elle-meme; 
toutes ses actions doivent avoir pour but d'embel- 
lir la viellesse de Sa Majeste et il doit constamment avoir 
present a sa memoire, qu'ancun repentir ne pourrait ja- 
mais compenser la plus legere inquietude qu'rllui cause- 
rait. 

"Je saisis avec plaisir cette occasion, Monsieur le Ba- 
ron de Cederhielci, pour vous renouveler I'assurance des 
sentiments que vous m'avez inspires depuis que je vous ai 
connu, et je prie Dieu qu'il vous ait en sa sainte et digne 
garde at qu'il benisse vos travaux. 
"Je suis votre bien aft'ectionne, 

"Charles Jean.'* 



389 

«From one o'clock until five in the evening he shall 
continue his studies. At half-past five he shall repaid 
to me, and dine at my table, on Sundays, Tuesdays* 
and Thursdays, (the other days he shall dine at home.) 
It is in drawing rooms and at table that, by degrees, 
we learn to know men and penetrate their characters. 
The habits of company give ease and grace, and pre- 
vent that timidity so common in children privately 
educated, and so dangerous in a Prince, as it exposes 
him to be duped by the boldness of a decisive manner. 
In dining with me, my son will find assembled the 
principal men of Sweden; he will hear speak the ma- 
gistrate, the skilful warriour, the profound statesman, 
and the indefatigable administrator; thus that society 
wdll contribute further to his instruction,* without his 
experiencing the diflkulties of study. 

**From seven until nine in the evening, my son will 
alternately employ his time either in paying his res- 
pects to LL. MM. or at the theatre, or at some as- 
sembly, or amongst the persons whom he has to re- 
ceive once or twice a week, and of whom I have al- 
ready spoken to you. 

<«At ten o'clock he ought always to be in bed, 

*<Thus my son will study seven hours each day: this 
time appears to me sufficient for his age. It remains 
for you, M. le Baron, to determine the nature of the 
studies which should occupy each hour, in conformity 
to what I have desired, as constituting his instruction. 

"One of the points of which I should have first 
spokfen, is, the affectionate respect that my son ought 
always to have for the King. He ought never to 
H 



390 

wish, under any circumstances, aught but what his 
Majesty desires: all his actions should have for their 
end the comfort of the declining years of his Majesty, 
and he should constantly remember that no repentance 
can compensate for the slightest inquietude he may 
occasion him. 

«I seize with pleasure this opportunity, M. Le Bar- 
on de Gederheilm, to renew the assurance of the sen- 
timents you haA^e inspired me with, since I first be- 
came acquainted with you, and I pray God that he 
will have you in his holy and worthy keeping, and 
that he will bless your labours. 

<*I am your very affectionate 

<< Charles John." 



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